Inside The Pinstripes

Aaron Judge Powers Yankees Past White Sox With Four Go-Ahead RBI

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge delivered four go-ahead RBI to power his team past the Chicago White Sox in a victory at Guaranteed Rate Field

Max Goodman

CHICAGO — Despite a pair of home runs on Thursday in the Field of Dreams Game, Aaron Judge watched the White Sox celebrate a walk-off victory as he walked back to the clubhouse. 

Two nights later, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, the Yankees right fielder made sure it was his club that came out on top in another classic between two powerhouse ball clubs in the American League. 

Judge delivered four RBI on Saturday night, each of them giving his team the lead. 

Two productive plate appearances early on put his team in front, but a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning and a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th were instrumental in New York's 7-5 victory. 

With the game tied at three runs apiece in the top of the eighth, Judge pounced on a 1-0 fastball from Chicago's right-hander Craig Kimbrel, lining a solo shot over the wall in center field. The missile flew 421 feet, sizzling through the air at 114.3 mph.

For a moment, it looked like New York's bullpen was going to hold on for the next six outs, featuring a four-out save from Chad Green. Needing one more strike in the bottom of the ninth, however, the right-hander served up a curveball in Jose Abreu's wheelhouse, allowing the reigning Most Valuable Player to send the game to extra innings with a booming blast to left. 

Judge led off the next inning and wouldn't be denied of a fourth clutch knock.

After Brett Gardner advanced to third base on a pitch in the dirt from closer Liam Hendriks, Judge muscled a base hit to shallow center field, giving the Yankees the lead, one they wouldn't relinquish.

Chicago made it interesting in the 10th, chasing Zack Britton by scoring a run and loading the bases with one man out. Albert Abreu was summoned in what seemed like an impossible spot, but the right-hander was able to hold on, recording the final two outs and his first career save.

Judge wasn't the only Yankee to come up big on offense Saturday night. Joey Gallo, who has been struggling to find results in his first few weeks with the club, slugged two home runs, including a two-run shot off Hendriks just three pitches after Judge's crucial single to center. 

Factor in the Yankees' two homers off Hendriks in the ninth on Thursday and New York has now scored seven runs off Chicago's closer in his last two outings. 

With four runs batted in, Judge is the first Yankee to eclipse 60 RBI, raising his total to 63 in the season. The slugger is now hitting .286 (110-for-384) with 26 big flies. 

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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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