Inside The Pinstripes

Aaron Judge Breaks Out of ALDS Slump With Game-Tying Home Run

With one swing, Aaron Judge has turned his ALDS around.

Max Goodman

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CLEVELAND — After beginning the American League Division Series with eight strikeouts in nine hitless at-bats, Aaron Judge got back to doing what he does best.

The Yankees right fielder blasted a 449-foot, two-run home run to left-center field off Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie with two outs in the top of the third inning in Game 3 on Saturday night, new life for New York after an early deficit.

Judge went 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts in the first two games of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. On Friday, the slugger heard boos from the home crowd as he trudged back to the first-base dugout following his fourth strikeout of the game.

Those struggles continued in the first inning at Progessive Field. Judge swung through a full-count slider from McKenzie in the first inning, sparking a huge roar from Guardians fans. 

When he stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat of the game two innings later, New York was already down 2-0. Starter Luis Severino was on the ropes, barely getting through two frames with two runs allowed. The damage could've been much worse.

With rookie Oswaldo Cabrera on third after his one-out double, advancing on a fly ball from Gleyber Torres, Judge had a chance to tie the game with one swing. McKenzie left a fastball right over the heart of the plate with the count at 2-1 and Judge devoured the mistake, annihilating a 113.7-mph missile over the wall in left-center field.

The home run from Judge is the 12th of his postseason career. It's the 63rd home run he's hit in 2022. Judge set the new single-season record in the American League with 62 long balls during the regular season.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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