From Bryan Hoch:
Even while Aaron Judge was in the thick of his early-season struggles, the Yankees’ captain expressed confidence that he’d soon emerge on the other side, believing that it would prove to be “just one of those months” where nothing seemed to go his way.
He was right. With one day remaining in his May to remember, Judge claimed a share of the Major League lead with his 18th home run while equaling Lou Gehrig for a historic achievement as the Yankees defeated the Angels, 8-3, on Thursday evening at Angel Stadium.
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Judge said. “Like I’ve been saying, it doesn’t matter how you start. You’re always going to have good months, bad months. You just try to stay consistent and it’s all going to work itself out. It’s been a good month with a lot of wins, so I’m happy about that. We’ll keep it rolling in June.”
Juan Soto added a three-run triple as part of a five-run seventh inning, joining the outburst on a night in which Judge clubbed his 275th career home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Halos starter Patrick Sandoval.
“He’s just a special player doing special things,” said manager Aaron Boone. “I kind of felt like we needed a shot of energy. Judgie’s homer got the boys going a little bit.”
The blast pulled Judge even with the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson and the Astros’ Kyle Tucker atop this year’s homer leaderboard, while also tying Judge with Jorge Posada (275) for eighth place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list.
Gehrig had previously been the only Yankee to collect 12 doubles and 12 homers in a calendar month, having done so in July 1930. Judge’s 24 extra-base hits in May are also the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio had 31 in July 1937.
“He’s pretty good, wouldn’t you say?” said left-hander Carlos Rodón. “I mean, that’s why he’s the captain.”
Judge is amazing (and the first hitter to get a featured image in a Yankee win in a while), but, like, why can’t you just be, all, “He’s an amazing hitter,” it’s always got to be some sort of weird mythologizing stuff. “That’s why he’s the captain.” Oh, IS it why, Carlos?
Two big streaks ended this game, Volpe’s hitting streak (it was really cool to see him take a walk in what could have easily been his final at-bat of the game), and the five-inning/two-runs-allowed-or-less starter streak. With Schmidt out, that was almost certainly ending on Saturday, when Cody Poteet becomes the new fifth starter, so it’s no big deal, but it’s too bad, especially as Rodon was dominant through six, so he would kept the streak going had they gone to the bullpen with a 7-1 lead, but alas, they did not, and Ian Hamilton allowed Rodon’s third run to score (while otherwise pitching pretty well, coming on with two men on and no outs, and only allowing the one run, and it was with two outs after he walked his first batter, and struck out the next two guys).
I hate, hate, hate DJ in the middle of the lineup. If he’s not going to bat leadoff, then bat him 9th.
Another series win. This team is doing what it has to do.
Volpes bases loaded walk was a great at bat.
I am really starting to hate Gleyber
Gleyber OPS May 754, Rizzo 598. Kirschner last night: Gleyber has made a couple of really nice plays at second base tonight.
Considering how many forgettable infielders we’ve seen on this team I just don’t get all the hate for a career 778, OPS+ 112 second baseman, but whatever. Luis Sojo 791 Yankee PAs, Yankee OPS+ 62
Gleyber made the mistake of flashing super star potential several times but never actually making the jump.
He’s frustrating because the raw talent appears to be there, but his defense has stalled at best and gone backwards at worst, and he’s been inconsistent as a hitter.
Yoendrys Gómez 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (win) His longest outing. Yankees have believed in him through copious injuries.
Torrens to mutts.
Why does Cashman hate Torrens? 😎
ugh West coast baseball…
I want Boone to play to win, but I have to admit that with a 6-run lead they really could have taken Rodon out when he put a guy on base – guaranteeing that he couldn’t give up more than two. That streak had people excited – and I bet the most excited people of all are the starters as a group. Why not keep that going? Wouldn’t you think Boone, of all people, would do that kind of thing?
Also, as impressive as Volpe taking the walk was, annoying that Volpe’s streak has to end not because the pitchers didn’t allow hits because they were great, but because the pitchers didn’t allow hits because they weren’t in the zone enough to hit. 8 walks and 5 hits? (Actually, half of those walks were Cimber in 1/3 of an inning, so maybe it’s not as bad as all that.)
Finally: nice how one AB changes everything. Other than the 2-run HR, Judge struck out every other time at bat.
Finally-finally – nice win, and I’m loving this team! May Schmidt come back soon.
Also – this West Coast swings seems inordinately wrong – is it? It feels like they’ve decided never to come home again.
long, not wrong
That’s what she said.
It does feel long but remember when the Yanks would take two week western trips for 13 games against TX/ANA/OAK/SEA? Those don’t happen any more I feel
I’m curious what the braves would offer for verdugo.
trading for Oakland’s miller would seem to spell the end of holmes’s time as a Yankee after this season.
wonder if they move Schmidt to the pen upon his return in 2-2.5 months
do we have reason to think they’re going to trade for Oakland’s Miller? And if that did happen, and it spelled the end of holmes’ time with the Yankees after this season… who’d be upset by that (except, perhaps, Holmes and his relatives)?
Id say a marquee reliever and 1b are the only areas of great need
unless they nutted and got bichette and vladdy
Miller is under team control for so long, and is bizarrely still the frontrunner for RotY (despite Gil being worth twice as much WAR), so I don’t see how they trade him.
But yes, Miller would be the perfect pickup.
They need Verdugo. Stanton is entering corpse mode
Ben Rice to AAA. Florial, DFA by the whatever they call themselves these days.
I loved the Cody Morris return on Florial, as he really is just fungible at this point, while Morris might actually have some use.
Peraza hitting 158/477. His prospect status has plummeted.
Here’s the potential if not (yet) the results.
https://x.com/sompatriots/status/1796693230752330237?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
Martian 3/5 with a home run up to 333/959. What to do with him? A good problem, I guess.
https://x.com/sompatriots/status/1796715852848337194?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
Yeah, it’s that really weird situation where A. It is a very good problem to have, but, B. It IS a problem.