Yankees can sense the end of decade- long drought

the turn of this century, able to beat you with power ball, small ball, defense, pitching and a clubhouse culture that has the biggest heart in the land.

“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Yankees All- Star infielder DJ LeMahieu says. “Early on, I felt it was going to be one of those years. No matter who it is, they’re going to get the job done, and that’s a special feeling. Obviously, there’s a lot of deep talented players here, but it’s so selfless. Everyone checks their ego at the door. And roots for everyone.

“We not only have the talent, but that chemistry, and that sure can take you a long way in this game.”

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge says he has never seen anything like it, and when he spoke to the team after the game, hoisting his beer, he made sure to give the game hero’s championship wrestling belt to 22- year- old Gleyber Torres, the youngest star of them all.

“I never been in an organization like this before where you’re surrounded by so many All- Stars, superstars, MVPs and Cy Young winners,” Judge says, “and they check their ego at the door. When we come in here, we all fight for one thing, and that’s to win the ballgame today. When you’ve got an environment like that, there’s no better place to play and thrive.”

The Yankees have reached the postseason 18 times, winning six pennants and four World Series championships since Brian Cashman became the GM in 1998, and yet this group might be the most unique of them all.

They had a record 30 players on the injured list this season. Their regular lineup didn’t play their first game together the entire season until Game 1 of the ALDS. Giancarlo Stanton, their $ 325 million player, played 18 games. Their ace, Luis Severino, pitched only 12 innings until Monday night’s clinching game. Their prime setup man, Dellin Betances, pitched two- thirds of an inning before his season ended.

Their leading winner, Domingo German ( 18- 4), was suspended for the rest of the season for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy.

So it was only fitting Monday night that reliever Zack Britton walked off the mound in the eighth inning with a tender Achilles tendon, closer Aroldis Chapman’s left hand was wrapped in ice when he fist- bumped Cashman, and veteran starting pitcher CC Sabathia pronounced himself ready for the AL Championship Series after missing the division series with a strained shoulder.

This isn’t a baseball team, it’s a cavalry in spikes.

“It’s got a lot of resiliency, a lot of heart and a lot of talent,” Cashman says, “but in terms of what’s going to make it unique, it’s got to climb the final two mountains to compare it to our other teams. Obviously, a storyline will be written. We want it to be a positive one. So we’ll wait and see.”

The Yankees were cautious not to divulge who they prefer to play in the ALCS between the Astros and Rays.

“It really doesn’t matter either way,” LeMahieu says. “They’re both really good teams. I just know that if we just keep playing like we did all year, and this series, we’re going to be just fine.” And, well, a little scary.

This is a pitching staff that suffocated the Twins’ high- powered offense. The Twins scored just seven runs and produced only a solo homer the last 21 innings. The Yankees yielded a meager .218 batting average and 2.33 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 27 innings.

“I know a lot of people had question marks about our pitching coming in,” Judge says, “but we have a lot of guys that put everything on the line every time they step on that rubber. When you’re going against a team that hit the most home runs during the season, and shut them down to seven runs, that’s impressive.”

The Yankees put on a highlight show with their defense, with dazzling plays made by Judge, shortstop Didi Gregorius and Torres.

If there was an MVP award in the division series, it would have gone to Torres, 22, who hit .417 in the series with a .462 on- base percentage, .917 slugging and a 1.378 OPS.

“It’s awesome to see these guys ball out,” Stanton says, “but we all know we got more work to do.

“We’re the Yankees. It’s our time of year.”