PITTSBURGH – In a memorable 1,000th game, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees celebrated by slugging his sixth home run of the season, propelling the Yankees to a 9-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates during their home opener on Friday. Judge’s significant seventh-inning homer off Tim Mayza mirrored a historical moment from last year’s season when he hit his 61st home run, breaking a longstanding record.
Judge’s latest home run elevates his career tally to 321, tying him with Babe Ruth for the most home runs hit in a player’s first 1,000 games while wearing the Yankees uniform. This milestone underscores his pivotal role in the team’s recent successes, where his performance often signals a win. In fact, the Yankees have posted a formidable record of 139-38 since 2020 in games where Judge has hit a home run.
Friday’s game also highlighted contributions from other Yankees players. Oswaldo Cabrera delivered a notable performance, going 3-for-4 at the bat with four RBIs. Rookie Anthony Volpe also stood out, achieving three hits that day. Their offensive surge provided essential support for pitcher Max Fried, who, in his first outing in pinstripes, allowed just one run and six hits over nearly six innings, marking his first win for the Yankees.
The game underscored Judge’s ongoing impact after clinching his second AL MVP award last season. With 17 RBIs over the first seven games of the season, his offensive firepower continues to drive the team’s success, paralleling notable early performers like Trevor Story in 2016 and Mike Schmidt in 1976, who also dominated the early games of their seasons.
This remarkable start to the season not only cements Judge’s status as an essential player for the Yankees but also sparks comparisons to some of the greats in baseball history. As he follows in the footsteps of icons like Babe Ruth, Judge’s trajectory suggests a career that could redefine power hitting in modern baseball.
While fans and analysts may marvel at these statistics, it’s crucial to remember that the pressure of expectation will continue to mount as the season progresses. However, Judge’s consistent performance, seen in both his hitting and leadership, gives the Yankees solid grounds for optimism as they press forward in their championship quest.
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