Aaron Judge’s triumphant return to his hometown continued as he showcased his formidable talents on the baseball field, further strengthening his stature in Major League Baseball. In a recent game held at Oracle Park, Judge launched a towering two-run homer into the left-field seats during the first inning, marking his 21st home run of the season and leading the Yankees to a 7-3 win against the Giants.
Blake Snell upset the pitch was called a ball and the umpire points at Aaron Judge like “look who’s hitting” 💀 pic.twitter.com/3vIX30SnZj
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 2, 2024
Reflecting on the moment, Judge shared, “I’ve got a lot of family in town, a lot of friends in town. We’ve got to do something special for them. I’m just trying to stay locked in and put on a show.” His performance indeed turned into a spectacle, as Giancarlo Stanton contributed with another homer, and Alex Verdugo drove in a couple of runs, further propelling the Yankees who have secured wins in 15 of their last 19 games.
The Yankees manager praised Judge’s performance, emphasizing his unique ability to convert quality hits into spectacular home runs. He remarked on the pleasure of watching Judge continue to excel in the game. Judge’s exceptional run in May, where he batted .361 with 14 homers and 27 RBIs, has only fueled speculations about him possibly surpassing his own American League single-season home run record set the previous year.
464 feet for Aaron Judge’s 21st home run! pic.twitter.com/ha1Oo2hBnu
— MLB (@MLB) June 2, 2024
In one of the most memorable moments of the game, Judge hit a remarkable first-inning home run off Logan Webb of the Giants, which was one of the longest in the ballpark’s history at 464 feet with a speed of 115.7 mph. Judge admitted, “That first at-bat, [Webb] was throwing me everything. I was just up there battling, to be honest.”
Webb, acknowledging Judge’s prowess, said, “He’s an MVP for a reason. You can’t throw pitches in the heart of the plate.”
Aaron Judge is at the point where if there were a league higher than MLB, he would be getting called up to it. pic.twitter.com/IU433KGoLF
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 2, 2024
This series against the Giants held a personal significance for Judge, a native of nearby Linden, California, and a childhood fan of the Giants. Despite turning down a substantial contract offer from them post-2022 season, his connection to the area remains strong.
Amid this backdrop, other players like Juan Soto and pitcher Cody Poteet, who recently returned from Triple-A, also made significant contributions. Poteet, after a commendable five-inning stint, expressed awe at Judge’s performances and gratitude for not having to pitch against him.
Judge’s record-setting pace in May aligned him with historic figures like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, underscoring a month of historic proportions. As Judge optimistically stated, “We’re just getting started. We’ll talk at the end of June,” indicating his relentless drive and the high aspirations of the Yankees as they progress through the season.
Major Points
- Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer, his 21st of the season, leading the Yankees to a 7-3 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.
- Judge’s performance was part of a successful streak for the Yankees, winning 15 of their last 19 games.
- His impressive run in May included a .361 batting average with 14 homers and 27 RBIs, sparking discussions about breaking his own single-season home run record.
- The series was especially meaningful for Judge, a California native and former Giants fan, who showcased his skills in front of family and friends.
- Teammate Cody Poteet and others contributed to the win, with Poteet managing a solid pitching performance after being called up from Triple-A.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
