Cali return Judge’s biggest home run
chance Gary Sanchez starts on Sunday than Aaron Hicks. Sanchez pinch-hit and struck out in the ninth inning. Sanchez (groin) and Hicks (leg) were both injured in Thursday’s game. They both sat out on Friday. Hicks also sat out on Saturday. “It felt good. Everything feels fine now,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez had 17 RBI in his previous seven games heading into Saturday. Hicks has been extremely productive all year after struggling in his first year in pinstripes in 2016. Austin Romine started at catcher on Saturday, while Mason Williams started in center field. Romine went 1-for-4 with an RBI while Williams went 1-for-3 with a run scored. OAKLAND — Welcome to the Judge’s Chambers West.
Aaron Judge has been embraced like a conquering hero in his hometown return with hundreds of local fans and residents of tiny Linden, about 85 miles to the west, descending on Oakland Coliseum to support their favorite son this weekend. Saturday was the biggest turnout yet with Judge requesting at least 150 tickets.
“There he is!” one ecstatic fan shouted out when Judge emerged from the center field entrance during pregame stretching. And then the place went bonkers.
Judge made the long walk to his adoring fans, lined up shoulder to shoulder from the dugout to the right-field foul pole, cheering louder and louder as he approached. They arrived early to get a glimpse or an autograph or a selfie with Judge.
Women burst into tears, grown men reached out to touch him, old teammates locked in a procession of bro-hugs, and former high school coach Bob Amerman and Judge came together for a warm embrace. Some ladies from back home even tried to pass him homemade gift bags and care packages as he made his way to the clubhouse, signing as many autographs as he could. This is what local pride looks like.
Linden residents Chris Solorio, 23, and his little brother, Matthew, arrived early with a hand-drawn sign. The local booster club rented a bus to bring more than 60 people to the ballpark Saturday as Judge’s homecoming took on the feel of a papal visit.
Marian Lindo, whose son Austin was Judge’s high school quarterback, had this weekend circled on her calendar for weeks. She talked about how she used to cook the boys spaghetti dinners the night before games, how Judge used to sleep on her couch, and how he was “always the first to fold up his blanket and put his pillow away,” indicative of the gentle giant’s kind heart.
“I’m shaking!” another woman said as she tried to steady her hand to take a selfie with Judge, wiping tears from her eyes as he got close enough to touch.
Earlier in the week, Joe Girardi said how difficult it can be for young players to come home, how they are crushed with ticket demands and how it can be difficult to fill all the requests that flood in. Judge seems to take it all in stride. On Saturday, Girardi’s words seemed prescient with Judge, the center of attention, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
“That’s the thing,” Judge had said of the hometown distractions. “I’ve got a job to do on the field, so all the off-field stuff takes care of itself. Once I get on the field, I have a job to do and I have to take care of it.”
Friday night, Judge did just that when he blasted his MLB-best 23rd home run. A family that lives just north of Linden was lucky enough to catch the ball. When he was told the father, David Nelson, is a local elementary EVAN GROSSMAN school principal and a lifelong Yankees fan who named two of his sons Derek and Mattingly, Judge cracked a smile. “Really?” he said. “That’s great.” Dozens of fans, including Aaron’s parents, Wayne and Patty Judge, sat in Section 104 in right field Saturday, wearing custom black robes with “Here Comes the Judge! 99” printed on the back. Each time he came to the plate, he was serenaded with loving cheers. They all rise, of course.
His mom and dad shared an adorable high-five when his name was called in the first inning. On Sunday, Aaron will play in front of Wayne, surely a Father’s Day treat for both of them.
Wayne Judge politely declined to comment. The Judges are being very careful not to take any attention away from their son, he said.
“You can read between the lines,” Patty said. Their pride, as well as that of an entire town, was evident this weekend.
Sometimes no words are necessary. Because you can see it, you can hear it, and each time No. 99 steps on the field in front of his biggest fans, you can feel every bit of it, too.