Judge adds two more to his league-leading homer total
The number that everyone wants to know is the one Aaron Judge is going to wind up getting after the season, presuming he doesn’t reopen talks with the Yankees and becomes a free agent.
For now, Judge continues to pile up huge home run numbers, as he added two more in Monday’s 6-4 loss to the Orioles at the Stadium.
It was his fourth multi-homer game of the year and Judge has an MLB-high 17 on the year.
“Just trying to do my job,” Judge said. “Just like everyone else in this building.”
He hit a solo homer in the first and a two-run shot in the fifth, becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to hit 17 home runs in the team’s first 42 games, joining Mickey Mantle (20), Babe Ruth (19 in 1928, 18 in 1930) and Alex Rodriguez and Tino Martinez who hit 17 in 2007 and 1997, respectively.
“Sometimes I feel like he’s salivating for something, gets it and drills it,’’ Gerrit Cole said. “Sometimes I feel like he’s being a good baseball player, staying up the middle and drills it the same way. … He’s making better swings than they’re throwing. He’s just better.”
Aaron Boone added, “Sometimes I take him for granted, I think. But not right now. He’s really carrying us offensively.”
➤ Joey Gallo and Kyle Higashioka remained on the COVID IL on Monday and they were joined by Josh Donaldson.
All three had symptoms, but none had tested positive, as of game time on Monday.
Boone said if Gallo and Higashioka tested negative again and felt better, they could be back “soon.”
All three remained away from the Stadium on Monday, since they were still dealing with symptoms.
In the meantime, Estevan Florial and Rob Brantly remained on the Yankees’ roster, with Miguel Andujar called up as a replacement player from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
Florial (0-for-3) started in center on Monday, with Brantly and Andujar on the bench.
➤ With the Yankees in need of a spot starter on Wednesday due to Sunday’s doubleheader and a lack of off days on the schedule, Boone said JP Sears would “likely” get the nod.
Sears had two scoreless outings out of the bullpen with the Yankees earlier in the season, but has been stretched out at SWB.
The left-hander has thrown at least 59 pitches in each of his last three outings (two starts) with SWB.
Luis Gil, who made the last spot start needed by the Yankees, is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery. Domingo German (shoulder) is “doing really well,” according to Boone, but remains “a ways [away]” from being built up enough to start.