Aaron Judge, back in his home state of California, put on a power display for the ages, launching two majestic home runs in the New York Yankees’ game against the Oakland Athletics. Despite Judge’s impressive performance, the Yankees ultimately fell to the A’s, losing 11-7. The two blasts extended Judge’s major league lead in home runs to 14, a testament to his continued dominance at the plate.
This marked Judge’s first time playing in the Sacramento area since his college days, and the game was held at the A’s temporary minor league home, a venue known for its hitter-friendly dimensions. The atmosphere was electric, with a significant number of Judge’s friends and family among the 12,113 fans in attendance, many chanting “MVP! MVP!” after each of his towering blasts. He expressed that the experience felt like a true homecoming, a sentiment shared by many observing his performance.
Judge’s first home run came in the fourth inning off A’s pitcher JP Sears, while his second led off the sixth against Justin Sterner. These two blasts brought his season total to 14, and his career multi-home run games to 41, placing him fourth in Yankees history. Teammate Carlos Rodón commented on Judge’s performance, stating that it was “not surprising,” highlighting the star outfielder’s consistent power and skill.
The game saw a total of six home runs, underscoring the offensive nature of the ballpark. A three-run shot by Shea Langeliers proved to be the game-winning blow for the Athletics. A’s owner John Fisher, who had previously expressed excitement about seeing players like Judge perform in the park, got his wish as the home team emerged victorious. Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the unique offensive characteristics of the stadium, noting the difference in how the ball carries compared to other venues.
Judge’s overall performance was nothing short of spectacular, leading the majors in batting average (.396), on-base percentage (.486), slugging percentage (.772), home runs, and RBIs (37). While his two home runs weren’t enough to secure a win, they solidified his position as one of the game’s most dominant forces.
