NEW YORK – Aaron Judge called Thursday night’s 9-7 win “a good answer back’’ against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After dropping two games to Arizona and striking out a combined 30 times, the Yankees got a little pre-game pep talk from the injured Giancarlo Stanton, according to Judge.
“Big G said a couple words…this is our home turf, don’t get swept. And we kind of took it to heart,’’ said Judge, whose latest home run came in a four-run first inning.
Here’s a few things we learned from the Yankees’ season-opening 4-2 homestand:
Beyond the torpedoes
After smashing a franchise-record nine homers Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Yanks’ quintet of “torpedo’’ bat swingers started an MLB-wide frenzy.
But the Yanks’ captain, in the non-torpedo camp, sensed a bit of distortion.
“Scoring all those runs, people are talking about bats, talking about this and that,’’ said Judge. “But you can’t get caught up in distraction.’’
Of course, with three more blasts Thursday – including Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s fourth and Trent Grisham’s first of 2025 – the Yankees have 22 homers, the most through the season’s first six games in MLB history.
That’s a good opening, following the one-and-done Juan Soto Era, though Arizona starters Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen splashed some cold water on that fire.
Aaron Judge off to MVP start
Conscious of his slow start to 2024, Judge altered his late spring training routine – regularly playing in exhibition games as Opening Day neared, as opposed to every other day.
Judge didn’t reach five homers and 15 RBI until Game 28 last year, before firing toward his second AL MVP season.
Well, he’s at the 5-15 mark after Game 6 this year, after going 3-for-5 Thursday with a double, homer and four RBI.
“Last year he hit 58 (homers) and had a bad first month,’’ said Chisholm Jr. “Imagine what he’s about to do. I’m just trying to keep up.’’
Thursday marked the 999th career game for No. 999, and he became the third fastest Yankee (in games) to reach 500 extra-base hits, behind Joe DiMaggio (853) and Lou Gehrig (874).
“I’ll look at it when I’m an old man, coming back for Old-Timer’s Day,’’ said Judge. Until then, there’s “a lot of work to be done.’’
The fluid leadoff spot
