Yanks postpone Red Sox celebration

NEW YORK — Neil Walker and some teammates pulled into Yankee Stadium at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, only to turn right back around for home when the Yankees announced a six-hour postponement.

The team needed a jolt to get through the long, soggy day. Aaron Judge provided the first with his return to the lineup, and Walker helped finished the job.

Walker hit a three-run homer, Zach Britton started a gameending double play in the ninth inning, and the Yankees kept the Red Sox from a bubbly celebrabut tion in the Bronx for at least another night with a 3-2 victory.

Batting from the left side, Walker golfed a no-doubter in the seventh inning off Ryan Brasier for the Yankees’ third hit of the game and a 3-1 lead.

“We didn’t have many hits tonight,” Walker said. “When you get a big hit like that, it can be uplifting. I was just happy to put a good swing on it.”

Judge returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his right wrist July 26, while MVP candidate Mookie Betts got a day off for the Red Sox after injuring his left side Sunday.

Judge hit a long fly to the track finished 0-for-4. He looked sharp in his at-bats, though, and gave the struggling Yankees an emotional lift amid a dreary stretch of the season — they had dropped 10 of 17.

“He was running around like a Little Leaguer in here today ready to play,” Walker said. “He was anxious as I’ve seen him all year.”

The Red Sox are still looking to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three years. They lead the Yankees by 10 ⁄ games.

“We’ll try again tomorrow and see what happens,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.