Aaron Judge continues his pursuit of history and putting the Yankees on his back while he’s at it. 

Judge crushed his 54th home run of the season, a two-run shot that broke a tie game in the sixth inning and lifted the Yankees to a 5-2 win over the Twins at the Stadium. 

It was the third straight game in which Judge has homered — the third time he has done so this season — inching him closer to Roger Maris’ franchise — and American League — record of 61 set in 1961. Judge’s 54th homer came in the Yankees’ 135th game of the season after Maris had 53 through 135 games in 1961. 

As usual, Judge had no reaction to getting closer to Maris’ mark. 

“It’s just not important to me,” he said after adding a double and a walk. “What’s important to me is winning. Winning this division first off and putting our team in a good position going into the postseason. It’s not all about me, no matter what happens. If I go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, it’s not about me. One guy can’t win or lose you a ballgame.” 

Nick Saban will once again become the highest-paid coach in college football after the approval of a new contract with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Alabama board of trustees compensation approved a new, eight-year, $93.6 million contract for Saban, 70, which will include an average salary of $11.7 million over the length of the deal.

Saban will make $10.7 million during the 2022 college football season and $12.7 million in 2029, the final year of the reported deal.

The seven-time national champion coach was previously set to be paid $9.9 million in 2022 as part of a three-year extension agreement made ahead of the 2021 season, which was set to run through the 2028 season.

Saban’s previous contract had been surpassed by Georgia head coach Kirby Smart — his longtime former defensive coordinator — who received a new 10-year contract with the Bulldogs, which included a $10.25 million salary in 2022 and an average value of $11.25 million.

It seems clear now, the Yankees will go only as far as Aaron Judge will take them. 

The Yankees avoided a three-game sweep to the Rays, with a 2-1 win to snap a three-game losing streak, as Judge provided most of the offense with a homer and a double in front of a sell-out crowd of 25,025 at Tropicana Field. 

And the Yankees got a break to finish the game. With the Rays having scored a run and the potential winning run on second, Clay Holmes struck out Yandy Diaz looking on a pitch that appeared to be low. 

The Yankees got their lead in the AL East back to five games — and four in the loss column — over Tampa Bay, thanks in part to five shutout innings from Frankie Montas. 

“It does feel bigger,” Aaron Boone said after the Yankees avoided having their lead in the East cut to three games, which it hasn’t been since May 9. 

“With what we’re going through, to get a big, tough win on the road against a team we’re fighting with for the division is huge at this time of year,’’ Boone said.