Yankees' Aaron Judge Finally Blasts Home Run to Snap Brutal World Series Slump

Aaron Judge had been on a career-worst cold streak through the first few games of the World Series, but the slugger got the New York Yankees on the board by finally crushing one over the fence on Wednesday.

Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a three-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The RBI single that Aaron Judge hit in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night didn't mean much to the end result of that contest – the New York Yankees were already up 10-4 – but it may have been enough to break him out of his historic slump.

Judge stepped up to the plate with one out and one on in the top of the first inning of Game 5 on Wednesday. The very first pitch he got from Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was a fastball down the middle, and Judge immediately made him pay.

For the first time since Game 3 of the ALCS, Judge went yard. The two-run shot marked his first home run in his last 29 plate appearances, on top of giving the Yankees a quick 2-0 lead.

AARON JUDGE GETS #WORLDSERIES GAME 5 STARTED! pic.twitter.com/HHRJ9Uo4KA

— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2024

Judge's 403-foot bomb to right-center was his first of the World Series. Through the first four games of the Fall Classic, the presumptive AL MVP had a .133 batting average and .411 OPS.

That brutal start to the series dragged Judge's career postseason batting average under .200. Judge's seven strikeouts in 15 at-bats also helped him take the lead for the highest strikeout rate by any player in playoff history.

Judge broke out of that cold stretch in a big way, getting the ball rolling for the Yankees in another must-win game.

Flaherty faltered against Jazz Chisholm Jr. right after Judge crossed home plate, giving up another homer to make it a three-run deficit for the Dodgers. Alex Verdugo added an RBI single in the second to put New York on top 4-0.

Judge added a double in the eighth to finish the night 2-for-3, but the Yankees went on to lose the elimination game 7-6.

Full playoff schedule in real time

• MLB POSTSEASON SCHEDULE: The 2024 playoffs are finally coming to a head, with the AL and NL pennant-winners now set in stone. Here is the latest on the schedule, with dates, game times, TV information and pitching matchups. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.