Aaron Judge has conditioned Yankees to expect the unexpected
Now in his fourth season of being Aaron Judge’s teammate, Gerrit Cole knows better than to doubt the slugger in a big spot. So when a question prefaced that it may be “unreasonable” to always count on Judge coming up clutch, Cole playfully debated the premise on Tuesday night.
“Are you sure? Are you sure? I don’t know if it’s completely unreasonable,” Cole replied with a hint of amazement. “It seems plausible every time he gets to the plate.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the Yankees’ locker room following Judge’s solo home run in the ninth inning Tuesday. The game-tying blast made it possible for the Bombers to win, 6-5, in extra innings.
The bomb came with formidable Orioles closer Felix Bautista on the mound and Judge in an unfavorable 0-2 count. But Bautista threw an elevated splitter, and Judge ripped it 403 feet – even though he braced for a fastball.
“I didn’t think I got it in the beginning, just cause I was so geared up for the heater,” Judge said. “I didn’t want to be late on that. But when I made contact with that, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. But once I saw the reaction from the dugout and the outfield, I knew we tied it up.”
While Judge needed a few seconds to realize what he had done, his teammates practically assumed he’d deliver before the at-bat began.
“It’s like an expectation,” said Michael King, who closed the game out with two scoreless innings.
Anthony Volpe, whose walk-off sac fly ended the game in the 10th frame, said something similar — and added that such feelings were shared by peers when Judge stepped to the plate.
“I thought exactly what happened was gonna happen,” the rookie insisted. “What’s so cool is that everyone in the dugout had that same belief and no one was surprised.”
Judge has certainly shown a flair for the dramatic. He earned a reputation for rising to the occasion last year, when he won the MVP award while crushing an American League and franchise record 62 home runs in a contract year.
After signing a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain a Yankee, some wondered what the 31-year-old’s encore would look like. Entering Wednesday, Judge is hitting .298/.400/.652 with 14 homers, tying him for the AL lead despite missing 10 games with a hip injury.
Tuesday’s longball marked the seventh of Judge’s career that either tied the game (1) or gave his team the lead (6) in the ninth inning or later. For his career, Judge began Wednesday as a .290 hitter with runners in scoring position; a .292 hitter in late and close games (plate appearances in the seventh inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck) a .279 hitter with the game tied; and a .283 hitter when his team is within one run.
It’s no wonder why the Yankees have so much faith in their captain when the pressure is on.
“None of these superlatives now are overly surprising,” said Aaron Boone.
“It’s remarkable. I mean, he’s the best player in the world right now, and he continues to show you why all the time.”
