Giancarlo Stanton is as stoic as they come, so when he unleashed a fist pump after reaching second base, it served as a testament to the immense importance of Thursday’s game.

The celebration followed a go-ahead three-run double by Stanton in the bottom of the fifth, which proved to be the game-winner in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the Bronx.

The Yankees (91-68) remain tied atop the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays, who defeated the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, on Thursday night.

Toronto holds the tiebreaker over the Yankees, who will need to win at least one game more than the Blue Jays over the final three to claim the division.

But thanks to Boston’s loss, the Yankees can now finish no worse than in the AL’s top Wild Card spot, guaranteeing there

See Full Page