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NEW YORK, New York.- We’ve grown accustomed to witnessing incredible feats as Aaron Judge continues to build a season to remember, so when the Yankees slugger tossed a billboard into the back of the visiting bullpen for a walk-off home run on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, barely recorded surprise.
Then again, maybe that’s only true for those of us who have been lucky enough to watch Judge every night.
Andrew Benintendi’s exposure to the MVP candidate has come mostly in the form of late-night TV highlights, and when Judge’s blowout sealed a 1-0 victory over the Royals, the newer Yankee knew he had seen something special.
“Seeing him from the other side, it’s amazing what he’s doing,” Benintendi said. “So to be a part of this tonight, it’s almost like it’s worded exactly how he wants it.”
Judge’s major league-leading 39th home run rescued the Yankees after they were limited to one hit in eight innings, largely thanks to Brady Singer’s dominant 10-strikeout performance over the first seven frames.
Facing Royals closer Scott Barlow in the ninth, Judge threw a Statcast-projected 431-foot blast that allowed the Yanks to celebrate their 12th MLB victory. Judge’s three home runs tied Mickey Mantle (1959) for the most by a Yankee in a single season.
“Especially in that situation, I was [0 de 2] with two [ponches]. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?” the judge said. “I just go up there, try to get the job done. Put something on the plate and make something happen for the guys behind me. Luckily it happened with the first pitch and we were able to do it.”
Combined with the acquisition of All-Star Benintendi, who was acquired from Kansas City on Wednesday for three minor league prospects and went hitless in his Yankees debut, Judge’s home run served as a balm after the Bombers were sweeps in a two-game Subway Series. this week for the Mets.
“Today was tough, especially after the two losses at Citi Field,” Judge said. “Then coming here and Singer shutting us down the whole game, it didn’t feel very good. But this team has a lot of heart, until the end.”
As designated hitter, Judge was walking through the clubhouse on his way to home plate in the ninth when reliever Ron Marinaccio commented, “Let’s get this over with.”
About two minutes later, as he watched from the weight room, the flashing lights of Yankee Stadium caught Jameson Taillon’s eye, a signal to run onto the field.
“We said, ‘This guy did it again,’” Taillon said. “It’s pretty incredible, but we’ve come to expect it. It seems like every big moment, he goes up and does it.”
Added manager Aaron Boone: “We’ve had the best player in the game on our side, and it seems like time and time again, when it mattered most, he seems to be big for us. We couldn’t ask for a better leader for our team.”
Barlow said he was trying to get ahead of Judge with a fastball down and far; the throw missed his target.
“We just finished watching the video,” Barlow said. “It just leaked in the middle, and that’s what hits really well.”
Sitting off speed and reacting to the heat, Judge said he wasn’t sure he got enough of the ball off the bat. Neither did Boone, who tried to yell the ball over the wall before noticing that center fielder Michael A. Taylor was running out of real estate.
“I was talking to him,” Boone said. “I was telling him to kick. She knew she had a chance, just because it was him. Then I started seeing Taylor track it down and I was like, ‘Ooh, we’re in business here.
Judge’s home run made the difference as Taillon shut out the Royals in six solid innings, scattering four hits. Taillon walked two and struck out eight in a 98-pitch effort.
Marinaccio pitched two perfect innings in relief, extending the rookie’s scoreless streak to 19 innings in 15 consecutive appearances. Closer Clay Holmes pitched a scoreless ninth inning as the Yankees recorded their major league-leading 14th shutout.
“A good win,” said Benintendi. “I was glad to be a part of that.”
Information: MLB.
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