Aaron Judge ends longest no-HR streak in spectacular fashion, takes lead in MVP race

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Aaron Judge broke out of a home run slump in dramatic fashion Friday night, blasting a grand slam in the seventh inning to lift the New York Yankees to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The shot electrified the crowd at Yankee Stadium and underscored his place in the American League MVP race.

His long ball snapped a drought that stretched across 16 games and 75 plate appearances. Before the slump, Aaron Judge had been red-hot, launching nine home runs in 10 games, including a two-homer showcase against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 25. That surge put him ahead of his 2022 pace when he set the American League’s single-season record with 62 home runs.

During the slump, Aaron Judge’s numbers took a noticeable dip, posting a .207/.352/.259 line with little power to speak of. Fans even humorously speculated that his guest appearance on the animated series “Rubble & Crew,” a “PAW Patrol” spin-off, had drained his power. In the episode, Aaron Judge’s cartoon counterpart hit 100 homers in a derby, sparking light-hearted chatter about a potential jinx.

But with his 52nd home run of the season, Aaron Judge silenced any doubt. Facing Red Sox pitcher Cam Booser on a 2-0 count, the slugger connected on a 95 mph fastball, launching it into the left field seats. His towering blast not only leads the majors but also solidifies his pursuit of another historic campaign.

Aaron Judge dismisses his record no-HR streak

Aaron Judge shrugged off talk of his recent home run drought in a post-game interview, downplaying the 16-game stretch without a long ball that had sparked chatter among fans and media. With a smile, the Yankees captain said he hadn’t been keeping track, suggesting that such statistics don’t occupy his mind.

The Yankees captain emphasized that his focus isn’t on hitting home runs, but on staying consistent at the plate. Aaron Judge acknowledged that slumps are part of the game and expressed little concern, even hinting that longer droughts could happen as his career progresses.

“Was it 16 games? Oh, I don’t really know that,” Aaron Judge said following the win. “I really don’t focus on hitting homers,” Judge said. “I don’t focus on any of that. Sixteen games, is that a lot or not? I don’t know. It’ll probably be longer at some point in my career.”

When informed that this was his longest homer-less streak to date, Judge remained unfazed, maintaining that he expects to face similar challenges in the future. His calm response underscored his long-term outlook on both his performance and career.

Speaking about how he handles tough stretches, Aaron Judge shared that he breaks the season into smaller segments to stay grounded. Rather than dwelling on extended slumps, he focuses on the day-to-day process, aiming to keep his approach simple and manageable. “It’s the most? It’ll probably be longer at some point in my career, so we’ll definitely break that,” the slugger remarked.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone voiced full confidence in Aaron Judge’s ability to handle adversity, predicting that the slugger would encounter more rough patches, whether later this season or in future years. Boone praised Aaron Judge’s remarkable mental toughness, calling him one of the best at weathering the inevitable ups and downs of a long season. The manager expressed no doubts about the captain’s ability to rebound, citing his unwavering self-belief.

“He’s going to go through this again in another few weeks, at some point next year, whatever, and he’ll be fine,” the Yankees manager said. “That’s who he is. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen at dealing with all that is the season. He doesn’t get on the roller-coaster ride. He’s obviously incredibly confident. I don’t worry about him at all.”

Aaron Judge takes lead in MVP race

Aaron Judge’s crucial grand slam in the seventh inning Friday night was his 52nd of the season. It extended his Major League lead in home runs and energized the crowd of 45,952, who chanted “M-V-P!.”

The pivotal moment came after Red Sox pitcher Zack Kelly loaded the bases with two walks and a Gleyber Torres RBI single. Reliever Cam Booser replaced Kelly, but he walked Juan Soto on four pitches, bringing Aaron Judge into a pressure-filled situation. With a 2-0 count, Judge connected on a 95.5 mph fastball, sending a 369-foot shot into the left-field seats, according to Statcast.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the stadium atmosphere as electric, using modern slang to capture the excitement. The grand slam marked the game’s turning point and solidified the Yankees’ third consecutive win, extending their lead in the American League East to three games over the Baltimore Orioles, the team’s largest cushion since mid-June.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged the challenge of facing Judge, calling him the American League’s top hitter and commending his consistency throughout the season. “We ran into a corner with the best hitter in the American League,” the Boston skipper told after the game. “He did what he’s been doing the whole season.”

The energy in Yankee Stadium was felt by everyone. Boone shared how even Jazz Chisholm Jr., known for his own showmanship, was in awe of the crowd’s reaction, underscoring the significance of the moment in the regular season at the Bronx.

“Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] came up to me after Judge hit the homer,” Boone said. “Just to see our dugout erupt, to see Yankee Stadium erupt, he was like, ‘This is pretty sick.’ That was one of those really cool regular-season moments you get at Yankee Stadium.”

As the Yankees prepared for a critical seventh inning Friday night, manager Aaron Boone was deep in strategy discussions with bench coach Brad Ausmus and pitching coach Matt Blake. They had decided to get Luke Weaver warmed up if the Yankees managed to tie or take the lead. That plan quickly unfolded after Aaron Judge’s grand slam, and Weaver started loosening up in the bullpen.

Weaver delivered when called upon, striking out three batters in the eighth inning and allowing just a single. He returned in the ninth, eyeing a rare six-out save to secure the win.

The energy at Yankee Stadium surged after Aaron Judge’s grand slam, with fans demanding a curtain call. The homer brought his RBI total to 130, just one shy of his career-best 131, set during his 2022 AL MVP campaign.

Postgame, Aaron Judge reflected on managing the highs and lows of the season, stressing the importance of staying focused on short-term goals rather than getting bogged down by extended slumps. He said he prefers to approach each day with fresh objectives instead of being overwhelmed by long stretches of games.

“I think it’s really just trying to cut the season into small sample sizes,” Aaron Judge said. “So you don’t look at it as a whole, or look at it as your past 16 games or your past eight games. It’s just, ‘What do I have to do today?’ And go out there and do it.”

Though Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has emerged as a strong contender, Aaron Judge’s MVP case is strengthening. His league-leading stats, including a 9.5 WAR, a 215 Adjusted OPS+, and a .453 on-base percentage, according to Baseball Reference, make him a frontrunner.

Beyond personal achievements, Aaron Judge’s heroics have lifted the Yankees. With this victory and the Orioles’ loss to the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees now hold a three-game lead in the AL East, their largest since June.

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