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After a Thursday night walk-off single from Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees dropped two straight games to the Houston Astros. It was an oddity for this year’s power-house Yankees, who lost back-to-back games for the first time in over a month. After being no-hit on Saturday, the bats stayed asleep as the no hitter stretched into the seventh inning of Sunday’s game. That was until Giancarlo Stanton hit a 436-foot solo homerun, and finally had the Yankees in the hit column. To avoid a series loss, who else would it be to hit a monster 417-foot, three-run, 10th inning walk-off homerun, than leading MVP candidate, Aaron Judge?
It was a team effort come from behind victory that was capped off by Judge. Stanton woke the team up with his solo blast and the bullpen did their part, allowing the Astros’ no more runs. With the score still 3-1, Dj LeMahieu hit a clutch 2-run homerun to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the ghost baserunner already on second, Michael King loaded the bases and created a bleak looking jam. He was able to work his way out of it, allowing no runs and continuing his own magical season for the Yankees. With the ghost runner on second already, the Yankees sent Matt Carpenter up to pinch-hit for Jose Trevino, who was intentionally walked. After a LeMahieu strike out, the scene was once again set for another signature moment for Judge’s MVP campaign. Judge sent a 0-1, 80-mph slider to the bullpen in left center and walked the Astros’ off for the second time in four days. It was the 22nd comeback win for the Yankees and the most in the MLB. It was also Judge’s fifth career walk off.
In a season where he bet on himself, everything is going right for the 6’7” slugger. Judge’s astonishing season is at the vertex of why the Yankees own the best record in baseball, at 53-20. Judge is currently hitting .294, with an MLB leading 28 homeruns, 56 RBI’s, and an OPS of 1.013. Along with top-notch defense and signature moments, Judge is currently the best player in baseball. Heading into free agency this off-season, Judge is expecting a massive deal and his play is proving why he deserves it. With an even more impressive start than his 2017 runner up MVP campaign, it is going to be very difficult for any player to take the award from Judge. Many Yankees fans have been vocal about wanting Judge to be named as the next captain of the team. Oddly enough, Judge’s third career walk off homerun, was on the same day as the last Yankees captain, Derek Jeter’s, 48th birthday.
