JUDGE-MENT CALL
Slugger talks with ump after suspect strikes
TORONTO — When Aaron Judge speaks, even umpires listen.
Judge, who blasted his 23rd home run of the season in the first inning Sunday, struck out looking to end the Yankees’ 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Judge did not agree with home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez on a few called strikes, including Ken Giles’ final pitch, and made sure to speak to Gonzalez in a professional manner at the end of the game.
In an earlier at-bat, Judge also got a questionable strike called on him, a checked swing when he started his swing but then stopped, trying to get out of the way of the pitch.
“I just kind of voiced my opinion on a couple of things,’’ Judge said of his discussion with the umpire. “I thought the first two weren’t close, and I haven’t taken a look at them yet. Manny is always good about that. He told me he is going to take a look at it. He kind of told me he thought that he had them right there on the bottom, right there on the corner. You just move on.
“It is frustrating for me, though, in a big spot like that,’’ Judge added. “Strike out looking. You never want to do that.” Aaron Boone anticipates Giancarlo Stanton rejoining the active roster during the upcoming homestand, but he didn’t sound like the righthanded hitting outfielder will come off the injured list Tuesday.
“Not necessarily Tuesday, I wouldn’t rule it out, but I wouldn’t expect that,’’ Boone said of Stanton, who has been participating in simulated games in Tampa.
The Blue Jays initially had right-hander Ryan Te
pera listed to start against the Yankees on Sunday. Then it was right-hander
T.J. Zeuch, and that was switched to righty Wilmer
Font, who was followed by Zeuch.
“Little curious to that,’’ Boone said of a team listing three starters. “Get ready and put our best foot forward.’’
Boone was waiting to talk to the Blue Jays before formulating an opinion of why the situation developed.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to anyone so there may be perfectly good reasons for it,’’ Boone said.
Zeuch was the second pitcher used, and he picked up the victory by going 5 ¹/3 innings and giving up three runs (two earned).
Luis Severino makes his first start of the season Tuesday night against the Angels at Yankee Stadium. On Wednesday, the Yankees, according to Boone, might start CC Sabathia and back him up with Do
mingo German like they did in the second game of last week’s doubleheader in Detroit. Thursday, it could be J.A.
Happ, who had a cortisone shot in his left biceps Friday, but Boone wants to check with the left-hander and the medical staff first.
“I want to get back [home] and make sure he is doing good,’’ Boone said. In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Dellin Betances and Jor
dan Montgomery, who were activated from the injured list on Sunday, the Yankees shifted righty reliever Jonathan Holder from the 10-day IL to the 60-day list and designated right-handed reliever Ryan
Dull for assignment. Moving to the 60-day IL means Holder won’t be eligible for the ALDS, although considering the year he had — demoted to the minors and posting a 6.31 ERA in 34 games — he might not have made the postseason staff even if healthy.