AARON SOCKS IT TO BOSTON!
Judge snaps homer drought to cap laugher
Aaron Judge hadn’t gone deep in 15 games, but the American League leader ended the longest power drought of his rookie season with a moonshot home run to account for the Yankees’ final two runs in Sunday’s 9-2 victory over Boston.
“Good sign,” Joe Girardi said. “I told you I thought his at-bats have been better. It’s kind of hard to evaluate at-bats sometimes against the Corey Klubers or the Chris Sales of the world. But I’ve thought his at-bats have been better.”
Judge hadn’t homered since Aug. 16 against the Mets at Citi Field, a span of 57 at-bats without one, before connecting against ex-Mets reliever Addison Reed for his 38th of the season in the Yanks’ sixrun sixth inning.
Judge, who reached 100 runs scored (also best in the AL) for the season on that at-bat, did not address the media after the game.
“He’s leading the league in homers, so I don’t think he should be too down on himself,” said Matt Holliday, who has homered in two straight games since coming off the disabled list. “When you’re that big and strong and talented, eventually you’re going to start hitting home runs again. I’m excited. I think he’s gonna go on a run for us.”
SIDE TO SIDE
Not even a month since returning from a six-week stint on the shelf due to a right oblique strain, Aaron Hicks was placed on the 10-day DL Sunday with a similar injury to his left side.
“Our hope is when we get back from this road trip (Thursday of next week), that he will be able to start swinging a bat,” Girardi said.
Jacoby Ellsbury replaced Hicks in the lineup and went 3-for-3 with a walk.
Lefthanded pitcher Caleb Smith was recalled from Triple-A Scranton rather than an extra outfielder, but Girardi said Ronald Torreyes likely would be asked to fill in as the emergency outfielder, if needed, in the interim ahead of Holliday.
Clint Frazier (left oblique strain) is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday.
ROTATION SWITCH
Rookie lefty Jordan Montgomery will start Monday’s series opener in Baltimore, with veteran lefty Jaime Garcia skipped for this turn through the rotation.
MAKING HIS POINT
Knicks first-round pick Frank Ntilikina stood in front of the home dugout in a Yankees jersey and cap during batting practice.
The 19-year-old French point guard said he’d never been to a Major League Baseball game before, but he met and posed for pictures with Girardi, Judge and others behind the batting cage.
Ntilikina added he’s been working out locally with some of his Knicks teammates ahead of the start of training camp later this month, including Carmelo Anthony, Lance Thomas and a few players who played with him on the team’s Summer League entry.
“We’re just focusing on playing, and whatever happens will happen. We’ll see,” Ntilikina said. “I think (the NBA) will be an adjustment for me. … Eighty two games for sure is a long season. But I’m excited to get started.”