The famed Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is far from over with tensions during their recent showdown has flared it up. The Boston team seemingly targeted Aaron Judge with a pitch on Saturday and the slugger responded to it with a vengeful homer on Sunday leading the Yankees to a decisive win, capping off a dramatic weekend.
The Yankees secured a series victory over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, with post-game conversations centering around the tension that had built between the division rivals.
However, before Sunday’s game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted that Boston had attempted to hit Aaron Judge, implying that pitcher Brayan Bello aimed a pitch at the Yankees slugger during the sixth inning. This incident followed Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hitting Red Sox star Rafael Devers in Saturday’s 7-1 Boston win, which Cora had previously claimed was intentional.
Bello’s sinker narrowly missed Aaron Judge’s back, sparking further speculation about the brewing tensions. Cora acknowledged the moment, stating that Boston had taken its shot, and it was time to move on. He added that he considered the matter settled in the sixth inning of the previous game.
Aaron Judge, however, appeared unbothered by the ordeal, soft-pedaling the significance of the missed pitch. “That’s baseball,” Aaron Judge remarked, adding that the pitch didn’t land and there was nothing more to it, “He missed. Nothing I could do.”
In a surprising twist, Cora also revealed he had met with Aaron Judge following the game, initially thinking reporters were asking about a postgame discussion with Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Aaron Judge confirmed the meeting but kept the details vague, saying only that it was a “good conversation.”
Aaron Judge’s revenge against Red Sox
After Aaron Judge smashed a home run to extend the Yankees‘ lead to 4-0 against the Red Sox on Sunday, he made a noticeable move by carrying his bat for a portion of his run around the bases. The ball soared high and ricocheted off the restaurant façade above Monument Park. When asked if the bat-carrying gesture was intentional, Aaron Judge deflected, jokingly saying it was just something he does.
“I thought I did that all the time,” Aaron Judge said. “No?”
The Yankees wrapped up their series, taking three out of four games and finishing their homestand with a solid three-game lead over the Orioles in the division. Their 5-2 stretch in The Bronx featured standout performances across the board. Gleyber Torres continued his hot streak from the leadoff spot, Carlos Rodon had a strong outing on the mound, and the recently revamped bullpen delivered crucial support. Manager Aaron Boone’s squad left the series in good shape, looking ahead to their next matchup.
Both Boone and Aaron Judge had a chance to address pre-game remarks made by Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who acknowledged Boston had intentionally targeted Judge during Saturday’s contest. Boone didn’t mince words, making it clear that such actions wouldn’t be tolerated and noting that the matter would be dealt with by the proper authorities. His focus, however, was firmly on the upcoming series against Seattle, stating that deliberately throwing at hitters had no place in the game.
“That’s not allowed,” the Yankees manager said. “That’s for somebody else to deal with. We’re finished playing with them for now. We’re on to Seattle. Obviously you can’t do that.”
As for Cora’s comments, Boone remained diplomatic, allowing Cora had the right to manage his team as he saw fit but chose not to delve further into the matter. Boone also speculated that Cora might have used the incident involving Cole’s intentional walk to Devers—which had sparked a big Red Sox rally—as a rallying point to boost team morale in their dwindling postseason chances.
Aaron Judge, meanwhile, downplayed any hard feelings, viewing Brayan Bello’s pitch as part of baseball’s tradition of players policing themselves. Whether Cora’s remarks were gamesmanship or something more, Aaron Judge seemed unfazed, ready to focus on the next challenge ahead.
“Playing this game for a while, things like that happen,” Aaron Judge told. “I know they were upset that three of their guys got hit that day. They’re just protecting their players. Something’s got to happen. That’s the way this game gets policed and it’s been policed for over 100 years. The biggest thing is just don’t miss when you do it.”
Aaron Judge maintained a calm and measured stance when addressing the recent dust-up with the Red Sox, acknowledging that incidents like this are part of the game’s fabric. He recognized Boston’s frustration after three of their players were hit by pitches, viewing their response as a form of self-protection. Aaron Judge pointed out that this kind of back-and-forth has been part of baseball’s unwritten rules for over a century. However, he added a word of caution, saying that if teams choose to retaliate, they need to be precise in their execution.
In Sunday’s 5-2 win, Aaron Judge once again showed why he’s one of the game’s top talents, crushing his 53rd home run of the season with a towering 445-foot shot to center field. As he rounded the bases, he carried his bat longer than usual, only tossing it onto the foul grass as he approached first base.
When asked if the extended bat hold was a message in response to Saturday’s tensions, Aaron Judge dismissed the notion. He chalked it up to a celebratory gesture in the heat of an important game, noting that it was just part of the moment.
“I thought I did that every time, no?” the Yankees captain replied. “Playing the Red Sox, big rival, big game, big moment. Just having some fun out there.”
Expanding on his actions, Aaron Judge explained that carrying the bat was routine for him and nothing out of the ordinary. He highlighted the intensity of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry and the importance of the game, noting that his hit came at a crucial moment. Ultimately, Aaron Judge said he was simply enjoying being on the field, soaking in the atmosphere of a hard-fought win.
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