Supporting Cast Secures Yankees Game 1 Victory As Aaron Judge’s Postseason Bat Stays Cold
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walked away from the plate after a low 84-mph changeup, serving him his first of three strikeouts on the night. He tossed his bat into his dominant right hand and hit the donut against his right hip.
Whether it was a motivation tactic or frustration, both were warranted.
Judge entered the ALDS Game 1 matchup with a .211 career postseason batting average. The American League MVP frontrunner added to his woes with an 0-for-4 outing against the Kansas City Royals.
Judge finished the 2024 season with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs while hitting .322. However, it was his teammates on Saturday that shouldered the heavy weight of the yoke Judge carried all season. The Bronx Bombers propelled to a 6-5 victory over the 2015 World Series champions in Yankee Stadium.
Alex Verdugo's go-ahead single to left field in the seventh inning with two outs drove in third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second base and granted the Yankees a one-point advantage. Verdugo earned the opportunity to play because of his left-field defensive ability and only hit .233 during the regular season. On Saturday, he finished with a team-high .667 average.
Many fans entered Yankee stadium expecting the tandem of Judge and four-time All-Star Juan Soto, who combined for 99 homers this season, to propel New York in Game 1. However, Gleyber Torres' two-run homer in the third inning was New York's lone homer.
Despite a disappointing night for Judge, the team has reason to celebrate as the supporting cast's performance heading into the postseason fostered an area of concern for the Yankees' quest for a 28th World Series title.
If the likes of catcher Austin Wells can consistently replicate his .333 Game 1 performance, and a few players not named Judge or Soto can similarly produce, New York's 15-year drought might conclude.
This story was originally published October 6, 2024, 5:41 PM.
