Aaron Judge is starting to stake is claim as one of the greatest sluggers in New York Yankees history.
Just two nights after he surpassed Yogi Berra, the Yankees captain pulled even with Joe DiMaggio for fourth on the team’s all-time home run list by launching two in their 9-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.
Judge pulled ahead of Eugenio Suarez of the Seattle Mariners for second in the American League in home runs this year with 46. But he also blasted career homers No. 360 and 361 and now sits even with the Yankee Clipper while trailing only Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493) for most homers in Yankees history.
How Did Aaron Judge Pull Even With Joe DiMaggio?
Just as he did Tuesday, Judge put the Yankees on top by homering in his first at-bat Thursday night when he blasted a 3-2 pitch off Tyler Horton into the Tigers bullpen to put the Yankees on top 1-0. His homer went 413 feet.
Two innings later, Judge did it again by socking a 1-0 fastball to the near-identical spot in the Tigers bullpen, this time off Sawyer Gipson-Long, for a 434-foot, no-doubter that put New York ahead 4-0.
Ironically, both of Judge’s homers were 110-plus mph off that bat, yet his hardest-hit ball was his sixth-inning single that was scalded 115.6.
Judge had one more chance to pull ahead of DiMaggio with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, but he struck out looking against Detroit reliever Keider Montero.
What Did The Yankees Say About Aaron Judge?
Judge was asked about tying DiMaggio on the Yankees homer list shortly after the game ended.
“It’s amazing,” Judge told sideline reporter Meredith Marakovits before adding “our main focus is what we’ve got to do out [on the field]. We’ve got some big games in Boston coming up, so that’s kind of where my focus is.”
Judge’s manager Aaron Boone, who he has managed for the past eight seasons, did not hold out on his admiration for the Yankees captain’s most recent accomplishment.
“Joe DiMaggio, in a lot of ways, transcended baseball,” Boone said. “To be next to him on a list, as he is going to be waving as he is going by, it’s impressive. It’s been a privilege having a front-row seat to that.”
Boone also acknowledged Judge continuing to meet the stage — as he always seems to — since he posted a multi-homer game on Sept. 11, with the President of the United States in attendance.
“It was meaningful to see your superstar go out and do that,” Judge said. “I know what it meant to [Judge]. I know how impactful wearing that NY on the pinstripes and what it is to represent this city and be one of the faces of the city, as a sports figure now, and it means a lot to him.
“It’s not lost on him. For him to go out and have that game on a night like this is a little extra special.”
The Yankees now head to New England for a massive series against the Boston Red Sox. Judge said he and the Yankees are fired up for that.
“It’s going to be fun,” Judge said. “The boys are pumped up. They’re excited. They’re ready to roll.”
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