Aaron Rechter And Juan Soto They both went 2-for-4, including a homer and three RBIs in Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, while the Yankees’ magic number in the AL East was down to one. New York, however, did not celebrate a division title.

The Yankees (92-66) lost 9-7 to the Orioles (88-70). With that, they suffered their first series defeat in three weeks and two losses in a row. The throne is still unclaimed until the final on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

New York’s four-run rally, featuring Soto’s RBI single and Judge’s three-run home run, was too short, leaving the potential deciding factor in Gerrit Cole‘s hands as the Yankees try to avoid their first three-game sweep since July 2-4 against the Cincinnati Reds.

“It’s the game, man,” he said Aaron Boone. “Nothing has been easy for us this year. You shouldn’t expect it to be easy now. But we’ve kind of hung in there and fought through it, and I feel like even in this game — in the same vein — we’re ready to go tomorrow. We’ve got Gerrit going. They’ve obviously got (Corbin)Burnes go, who has been throwing very well for them lately.

“So I know it’s going to be a really competitive game and, hey, that’s 2024 for us. (In) many ways, it’s been a great year so far. But it’s also been challenging and it hasn’t been easy. And coming home here wasn’t easy at first, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Will the Yankees’ momentum carry into the next game, after a game in which New York allowed 17 hits and trailed by a massive seven runs?

“That’s what we’re taking with us,” Soto said. “We’re forgetting what happened at the beginning. We’re just trying to focus on what we did at the end of the game and try to take that into tomorrow.”

New York has a chance to prove that before closing out the regular season with a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend.

“Anytime 45 is on the mound, I think we have a good shot,” Judge said of Cole. “He’s been throwing the ball, just in time for the playoffs, so I’m looking forward to having him out there.”