TORONTO — Aaron Judge is in the Yankees’ record books.
Judge tied Roger Maris’ franchise and American League home run record by hitting his 61st homer of the season Wednesday night in a 8-3 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
The historic two-run shot came off left-hander Tim Mayza on a 3-2 pitch, with Aaron Hicks on first and no one out in the top of the seventh inning.
Judge smiled as he circled the bases after going seven games without a homer, his second-longest stretch of the season.
“There was definitely some relief in getting to 61,’’ Judge said. “You try not to think about it, but it creeps into your head.”
He now has seven games left to set the mark for himself.
“We’re not done yet,’’ Judge said.
The 117-mph blast also gave the Yankees a two-run lead, as they won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
The ball, which hit high above the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left field, came in his 35th plate appearance since he hit his 60th on Sept. 20.
After Judge rounded the bases, he was embraced by teammates and coaches outside the visiting dugout. His mother, Patty, and Roger Maris Jr. were in attendance.
Judge came up again with two outs in the eighth inning and grounded to short for a forceout, so he’ll head to the game Friday at Yankee Stadium against the Orioles with a chance to set the record.
“It’s setting up now for just an amazing atmosphere again in The Bronx Friday night,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a good script so far.”
It’s one Maris Jr. believes should conclude with Judge atop the record books.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
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“He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ,” Maris said, alluding to the PED-tainted records of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. “That is really who he is if he hits 62 and I think that that needs to happen. I think baseball needs to look at their records and I think baseball should do something.”
The home run came a day after the Yankees clinched their first division title since 2019, when Judge tied a career-high by walking four times, as teams have grown increasingly reluctant to pitch to him.
“I tried not to change anything with my approach or my game plan,’’ Judge said. “It’s what got me to this point. I didn’t think it was fair to my teammates or the Yankees to chase a record. My job is to go out there and be the best player I can be. If that means taking a walk, take a walk.”
He walked just once on Wednesday, when he led off the game, then flied to left in the second and grounded to third in the fourth before homering against Mayza in the seventh. That came an inning after Gerrit Cole gave back a three-run lead following five perfect innings.
The Yankees scored three times in the top of the first against right-hander Mitch White.
Judge started things off with the walk, his fifth straight walk over two games. The first four batters ended up reaching base, with RBI singles by Josh Donaldson and Oswald Peraza before a sacrifice fly by Marwin Gonzalez.
Cole retired the first 15 batters he faced before Danny Jansen broke up the perfect game with a leadoff homer in the sixth to cut the Yankees’ lead to 3-1.
Cole ended the fifth by striking out Raimel Tapia to tie Ron Guidry’s franchise single-season strikeout record of 248, which was set in 1978.
But Cole faltered again in the sixth, as Toronto tied the score.
After Judge gave the Yankees the lead in the seventh, the Yankees added a run when Jackie Bradley Jr. misplayed Harrison Bader’s single to center and Peraza came around to score.
Aroldis Chapman finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
But as has been the case most of the season, the focus continues to be on Judge, who is also in the running to become the first player to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera did it with Detroit a decade ago.
Judge will return to a packed house at Yankee Stadium on Friday, with fans and players watching his every move until he gets to No. 62.
“It’s tough not to think about it,’’ Judge said of approaching the record. “You hear the noise, you hear the buzz, but when I step in the box, it goes aside. You’ve got to focus and compete.”
