Aaron Judge Homers Twice As New York Beats Tampa Bay
Court was in session at Tropicana Field in game two of New York’s four game series against Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Judge was the alpha and the omega during New York’s 8-4 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field, going deep in the first inning and the 11th to mark the ninth multi-homer game of his career. In doing so -- and after Aroldis Chapman escaped the 11th to earn his 24th save after Tampa Bay brought the tying run to the plate -- Judge also helped the Yankees stretch their lead in the American League East to 8 1/2 games and ensured at least a series split against the Rays, their closest division opponent, heading into the All-Star break. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
And Judge provided the boost with all the typical fanfare that surrounds the Yankees’ slugger in pressure situations. Ryne Stanek had just entered the game to pitch the 11th inning when the right fielder smoked the first pitch he saw over the center-field wall to put New York ahead for good. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“My biggest thing was just making sure I got ready early, so I could stay on the heater but also have a chance at the splitter,” Judge said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Judge has three homers in his past six games and four over his past eight. He’s reached base in eight consecutive games and slashed .407/.529/.889 during that stretch -- and manager Aaron Boone says he thinks the best is yet to come for the 27-year-old. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“I don’t even necessarily think he’s locked in yet and he hit two home runs today,” Boone said. “I think he’s getting close, that’s for sure." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
And Judge provided the boost with all the typical fanfare that surrounds the Yankees’ slugger in pressure situations. Ryne Stanek had just entered the game to pitch the 11th inning when the right fielder smoked the first pitch he saw over the center-field wall to put New York ahead for good. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“My biggest thing was just making sure I got ready early, so I could stay on the heater but also have a chance at the splitter,” Judge said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Judge has three homers in his past six games and four over his past eight. He’s reached base in eight consecutive games and slashed .407/.529/.889 during that stretch -- and manager Aaron Boone says he thinks the best is yet to come for the 27-year-old. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“I don’t even necessarily think he’s locked in yet and he hit two home runs today,” Boone said. “I think he’s getting close, that’s for sure." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Judge's 11th-inning blast was his ninth homer of the season, and it left his bat at a blistering 116.3 mph, according to Statcast. His knock proved to be the deciding blow, but New York still had some left in the tank. Two outs later, Gleyber Torres singled, Gio Urshela doubled and Brett Gardner sealed the deal with a three-run home run that took all the wind from Tampa Bay’s sails. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
The long ball was Gardner’s 13th of the year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka entered Friday’s tilt having fanned 23 Rays over 22 innings (three starts) this season and walked just one. His 0.41 ERA against Tampa Bay coming in was by far the lowest against any of his 2019 opponents. He also entered the contest having not allowed the Rays to score since May 12, a stretch of 17 innings punctuated by a June 17 shutout during which he fanned 10 on 111 pitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
That scoreless streak ended in the fourth inning Friday, when Nate Lowe went deep to lead off the frame for his first Major League home run. The Yankees’ starter continued undaunted even though Mike Zunino also went deep to lead off the fifth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“I didn’t have my best stuff; it was kind of a grind,” Tanaka admitted. “Luckily enough, I was able to get to six-plus innings, but there is a little bit of a bitter feeling just having to come out that way in the game, and at the end of the day, giving up four runs.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Tanaka ran into his first trouble of the season against Tampa Bay in the seventh inning, when a one-out double followed by a walk ended his night. His replacement, Nestor Cortes, hit Austin Meadows with a pitch, then struck out Tommy Pham before a two-run single from Kevin Kiermaier put the Rays ahead, 4-3. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
Pinch-hitter Aaron Hicks didn’t let the sour taste linger for long, leading off the eighth with his seventh home run to tie the game and extend his hitting streak to six games. From there, a combination of plucky relief -- led by 2 1/3 scoreless frames from David Hale, who earned the win -- and sharp defense held the fort until Judge could have his final say.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“[The Yankees] have one of the better offenses that I think all of us have ever played against,” Kiermaier said. “They don’t have a weak spot. Our pitchers are going out there trying to get out really quality hitters, and there’s not a break.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
New York is cruising into the break on a high note, having won eight of its past nine games and 16 of 18. The Yankees also moved to a season-high 28 games over .500 and pushed their win streak against Tampa Bay to six games, their longest since Sept. 17, 2014-April 28, 2015. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
“It’s awesome,” Hale said. “It’s so amazing to be on a team where they can change that quick. A couple of swings and you’re up by four. It’s really fun to watch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-s-2nd-homer-lifts-yankees-in-11
With the win, New York improves to 57-29 on the regular season.
For the second straight game Tampa Bay who like New York is a member of the American League East suffered their second straight loss to their division foe that dawns the pinstripes.
Before Friday’s game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the Yankees are a “better team than us right now” and praised New York’s ability to make the most of every situation in the head-to-head matchup against Tampa Bay this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
They have a better record for many of the right reasons, and they’ve performed better than us,” Cash said before Friday’s game. “In the head-to-head matchup, they’ve made the most of the situation more than we have.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
That was no different on Friday as Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner both connected on key home runs in the 11th inning to carry the Yankees past the Rays, 8-4, at Tropicana Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
“They just had better at-bats in a critical time in the game, and that was the difference,” Kevin Kiermaier said. “It’s frustrating. We’re all frustrated. … It’s one of those things that they’ve just been flat-out better than us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
The Rays trailed for most of the game -- despite a pair of solo homers from Nate Lowe, the first of his Major League career, and Mike Zunino off Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka -- but Kiermaier's two-run single in the seventh inning gave them a 4-3 lead, their first of the game. New York answered right back as Aaron Hicks homered on the first pitch Emilio Pagán threw in the eighth inning to even the score at 4. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
In the ninth inning, Tampa Bay had a key opportunity to take the lead after Joey Wendle opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a Michael Brosseau groundout to first base. With the winning run in scoring position, Guillermo Heredia grounded out to third base, and Tommy Pham followed with a groundout to shortstop to end the threat. It was the second consecutive night that the Rays had the winning run just 90 feet away. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
Tampa Bay also had an opportunity to add a couple of more runs in the 11th inning, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman got Pham to line out to first base with the bases loaded to end the game. The Rays left 10 runners on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
New York, however, did not waste its opportunities as Judge led off the 11th inning with his second home run of the game, a shot that traveled 442 feet off Ryne Stanek, to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Judge also homered in the first off Brendan McKay, who allowed three runs over five innings in his second Major League start. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
Gardner then delivered the dagger, a three-run home run off Stanek to extend the lead to 8-4. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
During the Rays' three-game losing streak, the bullpen has allowed four or more runs in the ninth inning or later in each game and has a 9.53 ERA over 18 innings pitched. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
“It’s tough, because we’ve played them so tight the last two days, and it seems like everything they do right now kind of turns to gold," Stanek said. "It doesn’t really matter. It’s tough. I feel like I threw the ball really well, minus the results. I attacked, threw strikes and it just didn’t quite go my way today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
The Rays are now 2-9 against the Yankees this season. The Yankees have outscored the Rays 9-1 in extra innings the last two nights and 68-33 overall this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
“We’ve just got to play better against this team” Cash said. “You take out what we’ve done against the Yankees and I think we’re all really thrilled. You can’t do that. We’d certainly like to feel better about ourselves going into the break. We’ve got the right two guys in Blake [Snell] and Charlie [Morton] going for us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
But most importantly, the Rays now trail the Yankees by 8 1/2 games in the American League East race, with two games left in the current four-game set and eight remaining against New York in the regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
“They’re obviously huge for us,” Stanek said, when asked about the final two games of this series. “We have to prove to ourselves and to everybody else that we can beat these guys. We’ve played them so close the last two days, brought them into extra innings and had chances to win the game and just kind of haven’t had that break that puts us over the top in these games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
“It’s tough. It’s a grind mentally, and obviously physically, for us, and the only thing we can do is come back out tomorrow, play our [butts] off and try and win a ballgame and try and win the next two.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-fall-to-yankees-in-11-innings
With the loss to New York , Tampa Bay drops to 50-39 on the regular season.
New York and Tampa Bay will play game three of their four game series Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.