New York, NY – In a tense ninth inning at Yankee Stadium, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made a pivotal decision that defined the game’s outcome against the Yankees. Despite having walked Yankees powerhouse Aaron Judge four times previously that Tuesday night, Mendoza chose a different tactic as Judge approached the plate yet again, this time with the potential to swing the game in the Yankees’ favor.
Throughout the game, Judge had been a specter at the plate, receiving a free pass in four plate appearances, including an intentional walk in the seventh inning following a Juan Soto walk. With the game hanging by a thread in the ninth, Judge had his chance to reverse his fortune and clinch a win for the Yankees.
Mendoza, reflecting on his game-time decision, shared with reporters that he was simply letting the inning unfold naturally despite the looming threat. “When the ninth inning started, I was just going to let it play out how we were going to get to Judge,” Mendoza said. The risky strategy paid off as Mets reliever Jake Diekman managed to strike out Judge with an inside fastball. Following this, Ben Rice grounded out, securing a narrow 3-2 victory for the Mets.
This decision to pitch to Judge was not taken lightly. Mendoza acknowledged the inherent risks given Judge’s impressive season statistics leading Major League Baseball with an OPS of 1.114, along with 35 home runs and 89 RBIs. The Mets’ manager noted that other matchups presented more of an advantage compared to the daunting prospect of pitching to Judge, even with bases empty and two outs.
The Yankees lineup has felt the absence of Giancarlo Stanton, who has been on the injured list since June 23. This has placed increased pressure on Judge and Soto to perform. Despite this challenge, the Yankees have maintained a solid performance with a team wRC+ of 112 and an average of 4.7 runs per game during Stanton’s absence.
On that pivotal Tuesday night, after walking Judge for much of the game, Mendoza placed his faith in a head-to-joust, trusting Diekman’s ability to handle one of MLB’s most formidable hitters. “There will be situations you go after him, and there are others where the game will dictate how we will attack not only Judge but all of them,” Mendoza emphasized. “They’re still good hitters. I know that lineup very well. It’s just that Judge is special. You have to make decisions, and I’m glad it worked out today.”
Mendoza’s gamble underscores the complex strategic decisions managers must make in the high-stakes environment of professional baseball, balancing risk and immediate game circumstances against the backdrop of an athlete’s season-long performance. His management of the inning reflects not just a spur-of-the-moment choice but a deep understanding of his players’ capabilities and the dynamics of the opposing team.