Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees captain, recently broke out of his postseason slump with a two-run homer against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series. After a nine-game home run drought, the captain finally managed to break through the gates.
Notably, Aaron Judge is already leading the offensive charts after a stellar regular season which placed him at the top of AL-MVP standings. Of course, the playoffs in a different ball game. But Judge finally displayed signs of breakout by displacing his own teammate in a special and historic franchise list.
Aaron Judge Surpasses Giancarlo Stanton In Home Run List
The New York Yankees secured a pivotal 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Now just two wins away from their first World Series appearance since 2009, the Yankees are in a strong position, while Cleveland, despite winning the AL Central this year, faces elimination with two more losses. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge played a key role in the win, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. This marked Judge’s first homer of the postseason and his 14th playoff home run, surpassing Giancarlo Stanton on the Yankees’ all-time postseason home run list. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Judge now sits fifth in the franchise’s postseason history, trailing legends like Bernie Williams (22) and Derek Jeter (20).
To be within one home run of Babe Ruth highlights Aaron Judge’s impressive playoff career, especially given the New York Yankees’ storied history as a 27-time World Series-winning franchise. Although Aaron Judge has struggled offensively in this postseason with a .167 average (3-for-18), he has maintained a respectable .346 on-base percentage, showing his ability to still contribute. During the regular season, Judge had an MVP-caliber year, hitting .322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs. If he wins the MVP award, it will be his second in the last three years, and he could potentially lead the team to its much-desired World Series title. Having said that, the high-stake ALCS series takes a brief pause for travel before resuming in Cleveland for Game 3 on Thursday. And with the Bronx Bombers in full control, Cleveland will look to extend their season with a crucial home-field performance.
Is One Home Run Enough For Judge?
Entering the 2024 playoffs, Aaron Judge’s career postseason batting average was .211, significantly lower than his regular-season mark of .288, with his OPS also dipping from 1.101 in the regular season to .772 in the playoffs. However, his power in the postseason remains, as evidenced by 14 career playoff home runs.
Aaron Judge has shown that once he finds his home run stroke, he often goes on a tear. Throughout the 2024 season, he had several homer streaks, including a stretch where he homered in five consecutive games. His homer in Game 2 against the Guardians may be a sign that he’s ready to take over the series, especially given his tendency to follow up a homer with more power.
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