Aaron Judge homered for the fifth back to back game Sunday, becoming the first New York Yankees player in 13 years to achieve the accomplishment.
The large slugger associated off left-handed reliever Matt Hall in the second inning, sending a three-run drive off the second deck in left field at Yankee Stadium to give New York a 3-2 lead over the Boston Red Sox. Judge went deep again in the eighth, impacting a two-run shot off Matt Barnes to give the Yankees their final two runs in a 9-7 win.
“I really think he’s on a mission right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The past Yankees hitter to dive deep in five straight games was Alex Rodriguez in September 2007. Judge joined A-Rod as the only players in club history to hit five home runs in the initial eight games of a season. Rodriguez additionally did that in 2007.
Without any fans permitted at Yankee Stadium in light of the coronavirus pandemic, colleagues in the dugout were handily heard bellowing in fervor when Judge associated.
“Not locked in yet. Still trying to find it,” Judge said. “I’m feeling good.”
Judge, who utilized the coronavirus break to recovery a cracked first right rib and resulting punctured lung, entered the abbreviated season with a physician’s approval.
“He’s healthy, man. He’s a stud,” Yankees first baseman Luke Voit said. “He’s in a groove right now. It’s a guy that you don’t want to take your eyes off when he’s hitting.”
Judge had never homered in four games in a row until he associated during Saturday’s 5-2 triumph over Boston. The two-time All-Star led the American League with 52 homers in 2017, when he was the AL Rookie of the Year and runner-up for MVP. Constrained by wounds the previous two years, Judge hit 27 homers each season.
The home runs Sunday gave Judge six homers and 14 RBIs in eight games this year.
