NEW YORK -- Happy Birthday, Aaron Judge!
OK, so we are a day late, but it wasn’t a dollar short for the Yankees during the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. His solo homer in the sixth inning helped New York defeat the Blue Jays, 5-1, and sweep the doubleheader.
In the first game, New York made it a grind for right-hander Kevin Gausman in an 11-2 victory.
Judge turned 33 on Saturday, but he didn’t play that day because the game was called because of inclement weather. But it turned out to be a great Sunday for him, as he went 3-for-8 in the twin bill and extended his on-base streak to 24 games, dating back to April 2.
With the score tied at 1 and Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt on the mound, Judge swung at the first pitch and hit the ball over the right-field wall to give New York a one-run lead. It was Judge’s eighth homer of the year and his first since April 16 against the Royals. He may have been homerless for a week -- big deal -- but he is still hitting .406 for the season.
“He’s amazing. He is just so good at not leaving the strike zone,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So if you keep making pitches against him, you have a chance. But he is so strong. People have to be aware how dangerous he is [with his power]. You have to be perfect. When you are not, obviously, he can hurt you. He is really doing a good job using the entire field, kind of spraying the ball around right now.”
One teammate enjoying The Judge Show is catcher J.C. Escarra, who had the best game of his career. He went 2-for-4 and hit his first Major League home run in the eighth inning off reliever Chad Green. To say that Escarra was a happy man is an understatement. Just two years ago, he was a five-star Uber driver and a substitute teacher. Like his first Major League hit, the home run ball will go to his father, who grew up a Yankees fan.
“I didn’t feel the ball off the bat,” Escarra said about the home run. “It was the first MLB home run. I did it here at home at Yankee Stadium. … It’s very special. This is my family’s team. It’s a dream come true. I’m doing everything as a Yankee. It can’t get better than this.”
For Escarra, it’s fun watching Judge up close and personal.
“He is amazing. Such a special human being on and off the field. Very talented. You look up and he already has two hits and a walk,” Escarra said. “It’s special for him to be my teammate and learn from him every day.”
What’s the biggest thing Escarra learned from Judge?
“Just be the same guy everyday,” Escarra said. “Don’t be too high and not be too low. In this game, we have highs and lows, but we have to stay even keel and be the best version of ourselves.”
Right-hander Clarke Schmidt and four relievers, including new closer Luke Weaver, combined to allow one run on three hits and struck out 12 batters.