Judge, Yanks do not scare easily
Elimination situations is nothing new to these Yankees, so no fear it is
SAN DIEGO — Aaron Judge has been here before. The Yankees slugger and de facto team captain has faced elimination in the past, and he said he comes into Thursday’s Game 4 of the American League Division Series with no fear or worry about the Rays.
“I think it’s that simple: knowing that it’s one or go home, the games that you live for are the ones where it’s your back’s up against the wall,” Judge said after the Yankees 8-4 loss to the Rays Wednesday night. “That’s what it’s about. It’s a pressure filled situation. And when you go into the postseason, there’s gonna be a lot of pressure situations and big moments, but that’s what we live for. We’ve earned that right to get this opportunity to battle down to the end. So we’re gonna continue to do that. Nowit’s time just to recharge, refocus, and get ready for the next two games.”
Two games if the Yankees are able to hold off the Rays on Thursday behind lefty Jordan Montgomery. With the loss on Wednesday night, the Bombers trail the Rays 2-1 in the best-of-five games series. It is the ninth time the Yankees have fallen to 1-2 in an ALDS,
advancing in just two of those series: 2017 against Cleveland and 2001 against Oakland.
To make a third dramatic ALDS comeback, the Yankees need Judge — and Luke Voit — to show up and help lead an offense that has been almost single-handedly carried by Giancarlo Stanton the past two nights.
The slugger hit his sixth home run in the last five games, becoming the first Yankee in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He is also the first player in major league history to homer in his team’s first five games of a postseason. His five-game home run streak is tied with Houston’s George Springer from 2017-18 and Carlos Beltrán in 2004 for the second-longest in Major League history, trailing only the Mets Daniel Murphy’s six straight games in 2015.
“It’s been incredible. This is the type of player that I know he is; he’s always been a guy that can come up in big situations and hits you a homer,” Judge said of Stanton’s run. “It doesn’t matter the situation, he’ll hit a homer using all parts of the field against relievers, against starters, great starters. It’s been impressive. Then also he’ll mix in a single here and there too. It’s been fun to watch so far. We just need to step up as a team and support him.”
Judge singled, going 1-for-4 Wednesday night, but is just 3-for-23 with two homers and eight strikeouts in five playoff games. The single in his last at-bat is a good sign, Aaron Boone said.
“Look with Aaron it’s one good at-bat, one swing that kind of gets him rolling a little bit,” The Yankees manager said. “Hopefully, you know, a hit there that he got just to center is hopefully something that can catapult them a little bit.”
Judge said he feels close to breaking out. “I feel good. I’m feeling good at the plate. They’re making good pitches in the playoffs and you’re not going to get too many cookies,” Judge said. “”Every now and then you’ve got to battle through some tough pitches. That’s all you can really do. Now. I’m feeling good to play. I feel confident, you know, feeling like I’m swinging at the right pitches. That’s all you can really ask for right now.”
The Yankees also need Luke Voit, who went 0-for-4 and is 1-for-11 in this series to get his bat going.
Stanton said the mood in the clubhouse Wednesday night wasn’t somber, just serious and businesslike. They know the offense has to dig them out of this hole.
“We’ve got to come out swinging, we’ve got to come out like our backs are against the wall,” Stanton said. “It’s now or never. So let’s go.”