Judge hit a two-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the sixth that capped an 18-hit drive – the most for the Bombers in a single game this season. Jake Bowers also drove in two runs, while Willie Calhoun and Isiah Kenner-Falefa each had two RBIs.
It was Judge’s 31st career game with at least two home runs, fifth in Bronx team history – four behind fourth-place Joe DiMaggio.
“It was one of the greatest individual performances ever,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “Two Homers, you stole over a fence, double, come on. what a day. I mean, what do you say?”
Judge not only hit two home runs, but stole one off his glove as he reached the right field wall in the eighth inning to keep Teoscar Hernandez’s drive from flying out of the park.
“I have seen many good catches; I don’t know if that was the biggest,” Judge said. “I think if it happened in a very close game, or if it served as a game-ending one, it could have. I’m just trying to pretend. It is easy to do such drama with my height.”
Boone said he thought Judge could be an underrated player on defense and eventually win the Gold Glove, one of the few individual honors Judge has not received in his career.
“I’m proud of my defense,” said the judge. “From throwing to base to trying to play over the wall, cutting hits. People can say what they want, but I will continue to jump on the field to do what I know how to do.”
How about this data? Per STATS, Judge is the first major leaguer to hit at least two home runs and steal another with his glove in the same game since he did it himself last year on July 29 against the Royals. He is the only player in the last 30 years to have had two such matches in his career.
Judge said, “I just try to get out there and do my job, try to play for my team.” “Especially when you hit the top of the lineup, you try to be the spark. You need to be able to score some runs, so we approach it like any other game.”
The Yankees piled on rookie right-hander Bryce Miller for eight runs in 4.2 innings. The comfortable lead helped Dominican right-hander Domingo Germán, making his first appearance after serving a 10-game suspension for violating the sticky rule, limited Seattle to four runs in 6 1/2 innings.
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