Judge Makes Yankee and American League History
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The frustration was building up on Aaron Judge and it showed in the first game of the day night double header last night against the Texas Rangers. At the start of the 4-game series, after Judge tied Roger Maris with his 61st home run, Judge was hitting a paltry .235, walking 18 times while striking out 15 times. In the 3-1 win Monday night, Judge went 1-2 with and rbi. Yesterday afternoon was the first time Judge showed his frustration during his quest to set the American League record for most home runs in one season. Judge would go 1-4 in the 5-4 win and after his at-bat in the fifth inning resulted in an out, he marched back to the dugout and slammed his helmet into the bat rack. The next time Judge stepped to the plate in the night cap and made baseball history.
Judge didn’t waste any time facing Rangers starter Jesus Tinoco as he deposited the pitch to the first row the he left field bleachers for his 62nd home run of the year. Only two other Yankees have eclipsed 60 home runs. The legendary Babe Ruth hit 60 and Maris hit 61. Maris’ last home run came on the last game of the 1961 season. After Judges second at-bat in which he struck out, Judge trotted out to right field getting a standing ovation as the crowd chanted M-V-P. Manager Aaron Boone walked out to right field and removed Judge from the game. Ask to describe his feelings, Judge said afterward, “l can’t even describe it. It’s such an honor to know what Maris did in this game. To get a chance tp tie Roger Maris, that’s the stuff you dream about.”
Judge wasn’t the only Yankee to make history last night. Starter Gerrit Cole set the single season strikeout held by Ron Louisiana Lightning) Guidry. When Cole struck out Rangers Nathaniel Low in the first inning, it gave him his 249th strikeout of the season surpassing Guidry’s 248 strikeouts during the 1978 season. Cole finished his night striking out 9 in six innings giving up 6 hits.
Even though New York would lose 3-2 the night belonged to Judge who was mobbed by his teammates as he approached home plate. “You just try not to get caught up in the moment,” said Judge. “I’ve got a job to do. I’m trying to help the team win the game. When I have that mind set, it’s kind of easy.”
