Ranking the Yankees' Top 5 Moments of the First Half

The first half of the 2024 season was a roller coaster for the New York Yankees, as the club experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The Bronx Bombers got off to a red-hot start, posting an MLB-best 49-21 record with a 2.5-game lead in the AL East after taking the first three games of a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals. After appearing virtually unbeatable, the Yankees proceeded to finish the first half on a 9-19 slide.

Despite these recent struggles, New York sits just one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the division at the All-Star break. The Yankees still rank among one of the top teams in baseball thanks to their dominant start. During this early stretch in which the club stacked victories, hitters like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton got the job done in the batter’s box while the starting rotation stepped up during Gerrit Cole’s absence because of an elbow injury. 

As the Yankees look to reset during the All-Star break, here’s a look back at the team’s top moments of the first half. 

Honorable Mentions

Luis Gil sets Yankees’ rookie strikeouts record (5/18 vs White Sox)

Luis Gil has been one of the Yankees’ most pleasant surprises this year, serving as the team’s ace for much of the first half. The right-hander has delivered several stellar performances on the mound, including a 14-strikeout effort against the Chicago White Sox on May 18. Gil dominated Chicago’s lineup, setting the franchise record for strikeouts in a game. This record was previously held by Orlando Hernández, who was in attendance for New York’s 6-1 victory. 

Anthony Rizzo’s walk-off single against Detroit (5/3 vs Tigers) 

The Yankees’ only walk-off of the season thus far came in early May, giving the club a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. New York’s bats were quiet for the majority of the night, as the team trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Bronx Bombers tied the ballgame on a clutch RBI double by Stanton, bringing Anthony Rizzo to the plate with runners on second and third base with no outs. With Detroit’s infield drawn in, Rizzo sent a walk-off RBI single past the diving attempt of second baseman Andy Ibáñez, scoring Alex Verdugo to win the game.