NEW YORK — Aaron Judge delivered another historic performance Thursday night, sending two balls into the seats and matching Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio on the team’s all-time home run list. His power display carried New York to a 9-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium.
Judge’s second homer of the night was the 361st of his career, tying him with DiMaggio for fourth place in franchise history. The achievement came just 48 hours after he passed Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra for fifth place.
“Just two legends, greats of the game, great all-time Yankees,” Judge said. “It’s pretty cool being on a list with them, but I think it’s even cooler getting a win.”
Presidential visit adds significance to emotional night
Former President Donald Trump attended the game on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, adding weight to an already emotional evening. Before first pitch, he visited players in the clubhouse and later watched from a suite along the third-base line.
During pregame ceremonies, the Yankees wore special caps honoring New York City’s first responders. Judge addressed his teammates about the meaning of the day before they took the field.
“We put on a show,” Judge said of meeting Trump. “He came in here and told everybody we were gonna win. I guess we have to have him around more often.”
The captain reflected on the responsibility of playing on September 11. “It’s an important day for all of us to come together,” he said. “It was kind of a surreal moment and surreal day.”
Judge’s power display dominates Tigers pitching
The reigning AL MVP wasted no time getting the Yankees on the board. In the first inning, Aaron Judge launched a 413-foot solo shot off opener Tyler Holton, a drive measured at 110.1 mph off the bat.
Two innings later, Judge struck again, this time against right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long. His 434-foot blast landed deep in the bullpen, registering 114.9 mph and giving him his 100th RBI of the year.
Giancarlo Stanton followed in the same frame with a solo home run of his own, the 449th of his career. That shot tied him with Hall of Famers Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Jeff Bagwell for 41st place on MLB’s all-time list.
It was the 56th time Judge and Stanton homered in the same game, postseason included. The Yankees have posted a 49-7 record in those contests.
Rookie pitcher bounces back from rough outing
Cam Schlittler, who had been roughed up by Toronto in his last start, delivered a composed performance on Thursday. The rookie right-hander limited Detroit to one run across six innings, striking out seven and scattering three hits.
Just five days earlier, Schlittler had allowed four earned runs in less than two innings. This time, adjustments paid off.
“You’re gonna have those outings,” Schlittler said. “It’s about what you do after that.”
The 24-year-old improved to 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 11 career starts. Manager Aaron Boone praised the rookie’s ability to handle the stage.
“You can’t tell the difference if it’s a Spring Training game or a big game on 9/11,” Boone said. “He was locked in.”
Yankees offense breaks out after struggling series
New York came in desperate to avoid a sweep after losing the first two games of the set by a combined 23-3. The lineup answered, piling on runs against Detroit’s bullpen.
Ben Rice and José Caballero chipped in with RBI hits to build an early cushion. In the fourth inning, Austin Slater, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all drove in runs as part of a four-run rally that broke the game open.
Judge finished 3-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch, raising his batting average to .322, tops in the majors. He continues to lead MLB in on-base percentage (.444), slugging (.671) and OPS (1.115). His 46 homers trail only Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh in the American League.
Only Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493) stand ahead of Judge and DiMaggio on the Yankees’ career home run leaderboard.
DiMaggio milestone carries special meaning
Judge’s rapid climb up the Yankees’ all-time home run chart has been historic. The 32-year-old has now produced 45 multi-homer games, trailing only Ruth (68) and Mantle (46) in franchise history.
DiMaggio, a cultural icon as much as a baseball legend, had long held fourth place on the team’s list. Boone acknowledged the significance of Judge drawing level with the Yankee Clipper.
“Joe DiMaggio, that feels like that’s been there forever,” Boone said. “To be next to him on the list, he’s going to be waving as he goes by. It’s been a privilege having a front-row seat to that.”
Judge’s blast also gave the Yankees seven players with 20 or more homers this season, tying franchise records set in 2009 and 2019.
As the Yankees chase October, Judge’s leadership and bat remain central. Thursday night offered both a tribute to September 11 heroes and a reminder of his place among the game’s greats.
Critical Boston series awaits this weekend
The win helped New York move a half-game in front of the Red Sox for the top wild-card spot in the AL. The Yankees sit at 81-65, while Boston is 81-66.
A trip to Fenway Park looms for a three-game weekend showdown. The Red Sox have dominated the season series so far, winning eight of the first 10 meetings.
“We haven’t had too much success against them, but there’s no better time to change it,” Judge said. “Especially right now, getting near the end of the year, it’s time to really turn it up a notch.”
Boone echoed that message but recognized the challenge. “Obviously, they’ve had our number this year,” he said. “We know it’s gonna be a tough series.”
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