Aaron Judge Returns, Lifts Yankees to a Nail-Biting Victory

Aaron Judge is back, and the Yankees really need him to be.

After hitting a home run in his last at-bat during Sunday’s game against the Rays, Judge made a significant impact in Monday’s wild 11-10 win over the Angels, nailing two deep base hits in the Bronx.

Even with the Yankees’ bullpen blowing the lead multiple times, their offensive efforts held up. They smashed five home runs in total, including one that scored Jose Caballero on a wild pitch from Jordan Romano. This win broke their five-game losing streak in a thrilling back-and-forth contest.

In his first at-bat against Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, Judge made a bold choice on a 2-0 changeup, launching a massive 456-foot two-run homer into left-center bleachers, putting the Yankees ahead early in the bottom of the first inning.

As the game became increasingly tense, the Yankees found themselves in dire need of Judge again in the sixth inning, with struggles evident from Will Warren and several other pitchers under Aaron Boone.

He once again came through, hitting a solo shot into left, marking his sixth home run of the season. This achievement also etched his name further into the franchise history.

This recent multi-home run game was actually the 47th of Judge’s career, which moves him past Mickey Mantle—who had 36—into the Yankees’ record books, just trailing Babe Ruth’s all-time mark of 72.

Despite Judge’s power, relying solely on him isn’t ideal. The Yankees have faced challenges this season, with many players underperforming. This was evident again on Monday, as their bullpen’s erratic performance highlighted their reliance on Judge.

Yet, on Monday, with a five-game losing streak looming, the Yankees couldn’t afford to have Judge take a backseat.

Initially, the team had a promising start to the season. However, as the weeks progressed, issues began to surface, particularly within the bullpen and infield. Players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., McMahon, and Caballero struggled in critical moments.

And then there’s the bullpen. Honestly, it’s been inconsistent, to say the least. Even after a no-hitter, Warren was pulled in the fourth inning, making way for Fernando Cruz, who, unfortunately, walked two batters and allowed a run.

Meanwhile, Tim Hill gave up three hits and a run in his 1 2/3 innings, adding to the Yankees’ troubles.

To compound the challenge, Jake Bird—who was traded from the Rockies last year—had a rough outing as well, surrendering a three-run homer to Mike Trout. Just two innings later, Doval allowed two additional runs to the same player, who had only hit two homers this season up until that point.

With the threat of Judge in the on-deck circle, Romano’s potential game-winning pitch ended up in the dirt, securing the Yankees’ hard-fought victory.