Aaron Judge got the New York Yankees on the board early during his first at-bat Tuesday in Game 2 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. But it didn’t come the way you’d expect from the likely 2024 AL MVP.
Judge came up to bat with runners at the corners and nobody out in the bottom of the 1st. The Yankees star hit a 0-1 cutter about a mile high right above second base. But what looked like a routine popup for Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio somehow touched infield grass. The Yankees got the game’s first run due to Rocchio’s error.
A handful of fans on X sarcastically joked that Judge finally silenced his critics by getting a run across in a high-leverage situation.
“Aaron Judge doesn’t produce in big moments” pic.twitter.com/gBDBQY7638
— Addison (@YankeeWRLD) October 15, 2024
PEOPLE TOLD ME AARON JUDGE WASNT HIGH LEVERAGE pic.twitter.com/M2EdRG3lFN
— Freddie🫡 (@YankeesSzn99) October 15, 2024
AARON JUDGE IS HIM
— Steak F (@steaakfriend) October 15, 2024
Judge got a chance to redeem himself in the third inning. The six-time All-Star came up to the plate with the bases juiced and one out. Judge failed to get a hit but did manage to send a ball toward the outfield for a sac fly, extending the Yankees’ lead to 3-0.
Aaron Judge with a sac fly to make it 3-0 Yankees in Game 2 pic.twitter.com/YMC39XdVk9
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 16, 2024
It’s telling that the Guardians intentionally walked Juan Soto to have Judge up in that spot. It was just the third time in Judge’s career that the batter before him was intentionally walked.
Judge has largely struggled this postseason. He entered Tuesday’s contest batting .133 with just a single RBI through five playoff games. On Monday, Judge went 0-for-4 during the Yankees’ 5-2 win in Game 1. But Judge silenced the doubters by busting loose with a solo home run in the 7th.
