Yankees 7-3 A’s: Bombers’ offensive juggernaut displays its might

New York Yankees 7-3 Oakland Athletics

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees smashed a two-run home run in the first inning following a balk called on Oakland’s starting pitcher, Joe Boyle, on the previous pitch. The Yankees secured a 7-3 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night.

Adding to the home run barrage, Anthony Rizzo and Juan Soto also belted deep shots to bolster the Yankees’ winning streak. With this win, the Yankees continued their dominance over the A’s in the Bronx, securing their fifth victory in seven games and improving to an impressive 10-1 record in their last 11 home matchups.

This game marked the first instance this season where the Yankees’ formidable trio of Judge, Rizzo, and Soto all homered in the same game.

The momentum shifted during Judge’s at-bat when he appeared to strike out on a called third strike and began heading back to the dugout. However, a pivotal balk call by third base umpire John Tumpane against Oakland’s starter Joe Boyle (1-4) granted Judge another opportunity, which he seized by launching a towering home run.

Judge Explains Balk, Boone Reacts Favorably

Looking back on the play, Aaron Judge remarked, “It was a fastball, and I honestly wasn’t sure what happened. I noticed a subtle waving motion telling me to ‘go back,’ but that’s just the rules being enforced.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared his perspective, saying, “Honestly, I didn’t even realize Judge was leaving the batter’s box because I immediately noticed the balk and the umpire’s call. Fortunately, it ended up working in our favor.”

Taking advantage of his second opportunity, Judge connected with a fastball on the outer edge of the plate, sending it over the short right-field wall. This powerful swing not only extended the Yankees’ lead but also moved him past Yankees legend Derek Jeter into ninth place on the team’s all-time home run leaderboard with his 261st career homer.

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged that the call was a close one that falls to the umpire’s judgment. He noted that such calls are uncommon, but in this instance it provided Aaron Judge with an extra pitch which he capitalized on. While acknowledging the umpire’s discretion and the inability to contest balk calls, Kotsay implied a sense of frustration at the timing of the decision.

Judge didn’t stop after his fourth home run. He continued his strong performance in the third inning with a base hit. This was his fourth game this season with multiple hits, marking the first time he’d achieved this since mid-April.

“His at-bats tonight were encouraging,” Boone remarked, noting Judge’s improved batting average, which rose from a cool .180 to a slightly warmer .191.

Volpe Shines on Both Sides, Rizzo Stays Hot

Anthony Volpe had a standout performance on this memorable night. He began by making a spectacular defensive play, leaping to catch a ball and rob Ryan Noda of a hit. Then, in the fourth inning, Volpe showcased his offensive skills with an RBI triple that evaded the Oakland right fielder, Lawrence Butler. Volpe’s hustle on the basepaths continued, leading him to score later on a sacrifice fly by Soto.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo maintained his offensive momentum by hitting his second home run in as many games. This impressive streak follows a period without a homer, which had lasted since April 6th during the Yankees’ four-run first inning. Additionally, Rizzo’s consecutive homers mark the first time he’s achieved this since May 19th-20th.

Sixth Inning Blast Propels Yankees Offense

Juan Soto ignited the offense in the sixth inning by hitting his sixth home run of the season, a towering shot that just cleared the center field fence and settled beyond Monument Park.

Alex Verdugo contributed as well, scoring another run with a sacrifice fly. The Yankees’ offense was sharp, amassing a total of 11 hits during the game.

Meanwhile, Brent Rooker had a significant moment of his own in the sixth inning, launching a three-run homer that prematurely ended New York starter Clarke Schmidt’s time on the mound.

Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt pitched impressively for 5 1/3 innings, conceding only 3 runs on 4 hits. Despite the runs, he tallied 6 strikeouts and issued just 2 walks.

In relief, Boyle took the mound for 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. He demonstrated his strikeout prowess with 6 strikeouts but also struggled with control, issuing 4 walks during his appearance.

The Yankees roster

Up next

Get ready for a left-handed pitching matchup in the series finale this Thursday! Oakland’s Alex Wood (0-2, 7.89 ERA) will take the mound against New York’s Nestor Cortes (1-1, 3.41 ERA).

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