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.

Kevin Durant is staying with the Brooklyn Nets weeks after publicly requesting a trade away from the team.

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant has rescinded his request to be traded ahead of the upcoming NBA season.

Durant and his longtime business manager Rich Kleiman met with Nets management and “decided to move forward with partnership.” 

The meeting included Durant, Kleiman, Nets team governor Joe Tsai, general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash.

Marks addressed the meeting in a statement: “We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn.”

The Nets will be viewed as contenders in the Eastern Conference with a committed Durant, alongside guard Kyrie Irving and versatile forward Ben Simmons, whom the Nets acquired at last season’s trade deadline.

The Yankees were blown out by the Rays, 9-0, and had to resort to using Marwin Gonzalez on the mound. 

After manager Aaron Boone said he hoped the unwelcome addition of a pennant race would bring out the best in his Yankees, they went out and played one of their worst games of the season. The Yankees’ slide continued, and their lead over the Rays dropped to five games — the lowest it has been since June 1 — and just four ahead in the loss column. 

“That’s an embarrassing loss,” Boone said. “Hopefully, it’s one of those rock-bottom things where you should be pissed off and embarrassed.” 

It was the Yankees’ fifth loss in their past six games — following a five-game winning streak — while Tampa Bay won its fourth straight. 

The Yankees’ offense was a no-show again as they were shut out for the sixth time in their past 25 games. And the lineup took another hit when Andrew Benintendi left with a right wrist injury.