Aaron Judge’s triumphant homecoming continued in spectacular fashion as he launched a 464-foot home run in the first inning of the Yankees’ 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The blast, his Major League-leading 21st homer of the season, set the tone for a dominant performance by the Yankees.
“I’ve got a lot of family in town, a lot of friends in town,” Judge said. “We’ve got to do something special for them. I’m just trying to stay locked in and put on a show.”
Yankees’ Stellar Performance
Judge wasn’t the only one putting on a show. Giancarlo Stanton also homered, and Alex Verdugo drove in two runs, contributing to the Yankees’ impressive run. The team has now won 15 of their last 19 games, with Judge leading the charge. His performance in May was nothing short of phenomenal, as he batted .361/.479/.918 with 14 home runs and 27 RBIs.
“He’s in such a good place,” manager Aaron Boone said. “The difference between him and most other guys is, when guys get hot and hit it off the barrel, they rack up some hits. When he gets hot and hits it off the barrel, it’s in the seats. It’s fun to keep watching that.”
Judge’s Impressive Stats
Judge’s first-inning homer off San Francisco’s Logan Webb was one of the longest ever at Oracle Park, measuring 464 feet with a 115.7 mph exit velocity. This blast was tied for the fifth longest in the ballpark since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
“That first at-bat, [Webb] was throwing me everything,” Judge said. “I was just up there battling, to be honest. I was able to get one there that he left out over the middle. When a guy like that is on the mound, you can’t miss a mistake.”
A Record-Breaking May
Judge wrapped up a historic May, where his 26 extra-base hits tied with Babe Ruth for the third most by a Yankee in a single month. His 1.397 OPS was the third highest ever recorded by a Yankee in May, trailing only Ruth’s performances in 1928 and 1930. He also joined Mickey Mantle and Tino Martinez as the only Yankees to hit 20 homers before June.
Contributions from the Team
Stanton, who praised Judge’s ability to handle pressure and deliver in crucial moments, also contributed with a two-run homer. “He’s zoning guys up. They’re giving him their best stuff. He’s unfazed by all those, finding a way to square it up in big spots and important times for the team,” Stanton said.
Alex Verdugo highlighted the personal significance of this series for Judge, who grew up a Giants fan in Linden, California, just 100 miles away. Judge had even turned down a nine-year, $360 million contract offer from San Francisco as a free agent after the 2022 season.
“Every game is important, but it might be a little personal,” Verdugo said.
Pitching and Defensive Efforts
Cody Poteet, recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, pitched five innings of three-run (two earned) ball, striking out six and walking one. Boone suggested Poteet might see more starts in place of the injured Clarke Schmidt until Gerrit Cole returns.
“I’m not looking too far ahead,” Poteet said. “I’m just taking it a day at a time, trying to get better each day and enjoying being around so many great players.”
Looking Ahead
As the Yankees move into June, Judge remains focused on maintaining their momentum. “We’re just getting started,” Judge said. “We’ll talk at the end of June.”
With Judge’s current form and the Yankees’ strong performance, the team looks poised for continued success. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Judge can make another run at the single-season American League home run record he set in 2022.
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