NEW YORK — It was coming up on 10 o’clock in the Bronx and Yankee Stadium just got loud again with 38,000 and change standing and cheering their lungs out for Cody Bellinger to do something.

A couple minutes before the Yankees stole a 3-2 win from the worst team in the league to punch their ticket to playoff baseball and then party like it was 1999, they were one out away from missing out on a first chance to clinch.

The Yankees also were one out away from blowing a chance to gain ground in the suddenly tight AL East standings.

With the out-of-town scoreboard showing the Blue Jays batting in the ninth and trailing up in Toronto, the Yankees were one out away from a one-run loss to a White Sox ballclub that flew into town with a 58-98 record.

Two on with nobody out turned into runner on third with two down in the Yankees last ups when Trent Grisham hit a double-play groundball to second, then it was runners on the corners after Aaron Judge was walked intentionally.

Bellinger was up facing White Sox closer Brandon Eisert. This was lefty vs. lefty, but right up Bellinger’s alley.

Anthony Volpe, who led off the Yankees ninth with a single, took a lead off third base and Judge strayed off first.

Ball one.

Strike called.

Ball two.

Swing and a miss.

“The Yankees are down to their last strike,” Michael Kay told viewers from the YES TV booth.

Eisert missed with a slider that was way outside to make the count full, then Bellinger fouled off a pitch.

The next 3-2 offering was a fastball so high that it looked like it was aimed at a fan seated behind home plate.

White Sox catcher Kyle Teel darted out of his squat and flung his catcher’s mitt arm straight up. He had no chance of preventing a game-tying wild pitch on a ball four that would have been high to Wilt Chamberlain.

The crowd went wild, then did the “Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh” singing chant while the ChiSox changed pitchers.

Next up was Mr. Super Utility Jose Caballero, who entered in the eighth as a pinch-runner for Ben Rice and stayed in to play third base.

Before Caballero faced righty Steve Wilson, he got some last-second counseling from second baseman Jazz Chisholm, who said, “I whispered in Cabby’s ear right before that at-bat, ‘You’re going to do it right now. Just be patient. Don’t force it, but you’re going to do it.’”

That was spot on advice. Caballero got down in the count 1-2, then took ball two and before fouling off four 2-2 pitches in a row.

The ninth pitch was a sweeper that was low and a hair outside, but Caballero went for it and hit a blooper to center that fell in. Aaron Judge scored from second easily ahead of a weak, two-hop throw that made Charlie Brown’s arm look good.

It was party time at Yankee Stadium.

One minute later, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman retired the Blue Jays’ George Springer for a 1-2-3 save.

Yankees win, Blue Jays lose, and the top two now in the East are just a game apart with five to play.

With the start of “New York, New York” playing and the crowd still roaring, Caballero was mobbed behind first base, then everyone headed back to the clubhouse to celebrate this eighth playoff berth in nine seasons and 60th in franchise history.

With stadium workers frantically hustling to tack up sheets of clear plastic to protect the lockers, Caballero was presented the Yankees’ championship belt, a tradition after all victories.

As two long ladders were carried out of the clubhouse, Yankees general partner Jennifer Steinbrenner walked past a line of media to the home clubhouse entrance. Seeing YES field reporter Meredith Marakovits first in line, Hal’s little sister let out a high-pitch celebratory yell and then offered a hug.

A minute later, the first champaign corks were popped and the madness was underway.

From outside the clubhouse, you could hear the commotion over the loud hip-hop music even though you have walk down a short hallway and then turn right upon entering.

Five minutes later, the writers and TV people were inside looking for player reaction, but it was proceed with extreme caution. Every player seemed to be double fisted with aluminum bottles of Budweiser, which were shook up and then sprayed in all directions.

When players needed more beer to douse and drink, they only had to walk a couple steps to one of the half dozen or so red, plastic coolers. These babies were huge, probably three feet high by five foot wide.

Most Yankees players had googles on to protect their eyes while spraying each other, but not third baseman Ryan McMahon, a summer acquisition from the last-place Rockies.

“No goggles for me,” McMahon said. “You’ve got to enjoy it. The burn in my eyes feels so good!”

Can we agree to disagree with that last statement?

McMahon went through this a couple times in 2018 when he was with the Rockies, but it was a first for the new Yankees closer who only played on losing Pirates teams before his summer trade.

“This is really special,” David Bednar said. “It’s a whole lot of fun!”

No one seemed to be enjoying this more than rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez, who partied the whole time with Bud bottles both sides of his head, his goggles strap holding them in place.

At one point, Dominguez jumped in the middle of a group of 10 players and did a little dance. The Martian is no Derek Hough, but he’s not bad shaking his hips.

“That was special,” Bednar said.

Later, Dominguez grabbed two brews, then he crossed his arms and took giant swigs from both.

He was cheered again.

“We want to love on each other,” Grisham said.

Judge was hit from the left and right while he met a few waves of reporters. A beer was poured into the back of his shirt, then he was sprayed in the face.

Judge wiped his eyes, smiled and said, “This never gets old. Just getting in (the playoffs), it’s something that very few players in their career get a chance to feel and achieve. So you never want to take it for granted.”

Judge had to stop his interview at one point because teammates were nearby chanting “MVP, MVP, MVP” so loud.

Once they finished, he mentioned how the Yankees overcame a lot of adversity to get to this point. They lost Gerrit Cole for the season in spring training, then followed a great first 2 1/2 months to the season with two months of losing baseball.

“You’re going to go through some good times and bad times,” Judge said. “All 30 teams have gone through something tough … injuries, a rough stretch. It’s how you respond, and all the guys in this room have a good mindset. They’re hungry.”

The hunger was the biggest message being spread throughout the clubhouse.

The Yankees are very happy to be in the playoffs, but are determined to get there as division champs. Then they plan on beating all comers to get back to the World Series.

“I still feel like (the World Series was) yesterday,” Chisholm said. “That’s how much I’m driven to last October. This October we’re coming to prove a point.”

“I’ve been saying the whole year this is a one of a kind roster. We’ve got great players on this team in the bullpen, starting and on the field.

“I’ve always believed this was the best team in the league. The way we come together, the amount of talent and the way that everyone on this team wants to win a ring.”

Caballero, the hero of the night, is going to the playoffs for the first time. He had the Yankees’ championship belt draped over his left shoulder throughout the clubhouse celebration and said he wasn’t taking it off.

“Hell no,” he said. “This is the best time to have the belt and I’m not letting it go.”

The Yankees say they’re on a mission and they’re confident this is finally their year.

“There’s a lot more coming,” Caballero said. “This is just the beginning for us. We’re coming for the big thing.”

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