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The Yankees’ offense showed its range Tuesday night. From Aaron Judge’s barely-there home run to Ben Rice’s booming blast, New York handled the Texas Rangers 5-2 at Yankee Stadium.
The victory extended the Yankees’ hot streak to nine wins in their last 12 games. They now stand a season-high nine games over .500.
Judge connected for the shortest homer of his career. Rice fulfilled his manager’s pregame prediction. Together, they spearheaded an offensive attack that proved too much for Texas.
Judge gets just enough distance
NYY
Aaron Judge typically launches moonshots that leave no doubt. His 16th homer of 2025 took a different path.
Facing reliever Caleb Boushley in the eighth inning, Judge lofted a fly ball down the right-field line. The ball barely cleared Yankee Stadium’s notoriously short porch. At 326 feet, it marked the shortest home run of his major league career, according to Sports Reference researcher Katie Sharp.
“I was kind of blowing it out right there,” Judge said afterward. “You’re hoping it sneaks over.”
It did—barely. Statcast data showed the hit would have been a home run in only three other stadiums: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa (which mirrors Yankee Stadium’s dimensions), Fenway Park, and Oracle Park.
Judge’s homer tied him with Kyle Schwarber for the second-most in the majors. Only Shohei Ohtani (17) has more. Judge also lifted his batting average to an eye-popping .403. He has now reached base in 44 of 47 games this season.
“We’ll take them all,” Judge said of his wall-scraper. “It counts the same as the longest one.”
Boone’s Rice prediction comes true
NYY
Yankees manager Aaron Boone delivered a simple message to Ben Rice during batting practice.
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“You’ve got this guy,” Boone told the young slugger, referring to Rangers lefty Patrick Corbin.
Rice validated that confidence in the second inning. He drove Corbin’s pitch into the second deck for his 10th home run, giving New York a 1-0 lead. The no-doubt blast showcased Rice’s growing power.
The 25-year-old wasn’t finished. In the fourth inning, he launched a 111.0 mph laser to deep center. The ball seemed destined for extra bases until Texas outfielder Sam Haggerty made a leaping grab. Despite the defensive heroics, Rice’s drive scored Judge on a sacrifice fly, extending the lead.
Statcast graded Rice’s fourth-inning swing with a .930 expected batting average. Such metrics reflect his improving approach at the plate.
“I think if you go up there with a good plan and execute, you’re probably going to hit the ball in the sweet spot,” Rice said.
The data backs up Rice’s modest assessment. His hard-hit rate has jumped dramatically this year, rising from 36.7% to 57.8%—now seventh-best in the league. His average exit velocity has increased 3.8 mph to 93.8, placing him among baseball’s elite power hitters.
“He’s cleaned up some things mechanically,” Judge said. “He’s always talking with [Giancarlo] Stanton, talking with me, talking with different guys about, ‘Hey, what do you look for here?’ He’s putting the whole total package together. It’s impressive—and I’m looking forward to more.”
Bronx bombing at full strength
Judge’s eighth-inning shot provided insurance, but the Yankees had already built a comfortable lead. Anthony Volpe contributed an RBI double in the sixth that scored Paul Goldschmidt, pushing the advantage to 3-0.
The Rangers broke through only in the ninth. Jonah Heim took Ian Hamilton deep for a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Luke Weaver entered to record the final out, securing his sixth save.
New York’s pitching continues to stabilize, but the lineup’s growing balance might be most significant. With Rice emerging as a legitimate threat and Judge performing at an MVP level, the Yankees‘ offense shows signs of becoming baseball’s most formidable.
Tuesday’s victory wasn’t defined by statistics alone. It featured moments that highlight this team’s potential—a superstar’s fortunate home run, a young player’s continued development, and a manager’s confidence rewarded.
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The win exemplified what makes this Yankees team dangerous. They can win with towering blasts or wall-scrapers. They can rely on established stars or emerging talents. Most importantly, they’re finding different ways to succeed each night.
As Judge’s unlikely homer proved, sometimes it doesn’t matter how far the ball travels—just that it gets the job done.
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Esteban Quinones is a proud graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Growing up just blocks away from Yankee Stadium in Upper Manhattan, Esteban developed a deep love for the New York Yankees, a passion that has been a constant throughout his life. Whether it's cheering for the Yankees or crafting strategic communications, Esteban brings dedication and enthusiasm to producing content around all things Yankees.
