After a record-breaking 62 home runs in 2022, Aaron Judge looks like on his way to another historic season in 2023. The power hitter blasted off two more home runs on Sunday, as the New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-3. In nine games this season, Aaron Judge has hit four home runs, which is enough for fans to believe that he has picked up right where he left off last season.
Aaron Judge hit two solo home runs, the first in the third inning against Tyler Wells and the second in the eighth inning against Logan Gillaspie. This was his 28th game with more than one home run.
“They got great pitchers that are going to come after you, they don’t back down from anybody. You like that as a competitor. They’re going to come with their “A stuff” and I’m gonna come with my “A swing” and we’ll see what happens.”
Aaron Judge is on a roll
Aaron Judge is at .364 so far this season. In his first at-bat against the Orioles in Game 3, Judge hit a single, extending his streak of reaching base to a career-high 42 games. When Giancarlo Stanton hit a single two batters later, he came in to score the game’s first run.
Two innings later, Aaron Judge hit a pitch from Tyler Wells to deep center, making the score 2-0. He struck out in his next at-bat, but he started the top of the eighth with a solo home run to left center that put the Yankees ahead 5-2.
“I feel like there’s always a good breeze, a good wind blowing out,” Aaron Judge said. “I was pretty upset when they moved that wall back, but you’ve got to deal with it and just try to hit it in other parts besides that big wall.”
Aaron Judge was on fire from the start, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI, and three runs scored. He currently has the most multi-home run games in baseball since 2017, with 28, and has homered 36 times against the Orioles in that period.
The Yankees star slugger has four home runs and seven RBI in only nine games this season. It took him 17 games last season to achieve that record. According to Aaron Judge, he is in such a fantastic rhythm right now because he is ready to get in the box.
“Making sure I’m starting early in my load so I can recognize pitches. Just having confidence in my teammates. [Anthony] Rizzo’s been swinging the bat well, he got robbed on one, DJ [Lemahieu] in front of me setting the table. Just about swinging at strikes and being ready.”
Judge’s 28th Multi homer game
On Sunday, Aaron Judge hit his 28th multihomer game of his career and his first of the 2023 season. In the eighth inning, the reigning American League MVP cleared the ball to achieve this.
Aaron Judge’s first home run came off Baltimore right-hander Tyler Wells, who gave up a pair of bombs in the Inner Harbor on July 22, when Judge was already more than halfway to Roger Maris‘ single-season AL record of 61. Judge lowered his head as the drive flew toward center field, thinking he’d just lifted a flyout.
The ball went 416 feet, according to Statcast, clearing the wall with enough to spare. Wells scolded himself for what he called “probably simply a horrible sequence against Judge,” adding, “but he’s proved that he performs well against me in the past.”
Aaron Judge hit a 385-foot homer off reliever Ryan Gillaspie in the eighth inning. He has 37 career home runs against the Orioles, the most by any player since 2017.
How does Judge compare to last April, when he hit 62 home runs?
“Better?” Aaron Boone, the manager, responded with a chuckle.
“It took me a while last year to kind of get going,” said Judge, who didn’t hit his second home run until Game 14 of 2022.
“He might break that 62, who knows,” said Cortes, the winning pitcher.
Aaron Judge against the Orioles
Aaron Judge has always liked hitting at Camden Yards, and it remains one of his favorite settings. He has homered in 10 of his previous 18 games against the Orioles, giving him a total of 37. Judge has blistered three times in 47 games at Camden Yards, hitting.315 with 21 home runs and 42 RBIs. He has overtaken Don Mattingly for 11th place on the Yankees’ career home run list with 224.
When asked what it is about the Baltimore pitching staff that makes him so successful, Aaron Judge mentioned their competitiveness.
Aaron Judge seemed to like at-bats against Orioles starter Wells, as two of his 62 home runs in 2022 came against Wells on July 22 last year. Judge is currently tied for the club lead in RBI with seven, in addition to leading the Yankees in home runs.
He shares that space with Franchy Cordero, who took revenge on the Orioles. He showed them throughout spring training that he can smash the ball hard. He spent the weekend reminding them of his ability while dressed in Yankees road grays.
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