The New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Saturday, and Aaron Judge hit his 200th career home run, the second-fastest feat in major league history.
I'm eager to finish that one, the judge replied. We had a little race going on because I was attempting to reach 200 and (Aaron Hicks) was about to reach 100.
The 6-foot-7 slugger trailed only Ryan Howard of Philadelphia, who accomplished the record in 2009 in 658 games, with his 200th home run, which came in his 671st career game.
Judge, who gave his parents his first home run ball, was able to acquire his 200th from a "decent family" without engaging in a lengthy discussion. He thinks his parents will receive this one as well.
For New York, which won its third straight game after losing two to the New York Mets, DJ LeMahieu homered, had an RBI single, and Matt Carpenter homered for the 15th time in 40 games.
The Royals have lost seven straight games to the American League-leading Yankees, who have won 10 of the last 11.
For the Royals, who have now dropped five straight games, Whit Merrifield doubled in the third inning to get his 1,000th career hit, and Salvador Perez added a sacrifice fly.
Judge fouled off two breaking balls from starter Jonathan Heasley before launching a 2-2 fastball into the right-center field seats for a two-run homer in the second inning, just one day after becoming the first player with 40 home runs this season. He had two hits, including this one, and two walks.
Manager Aaron Boone of New York stated, "He smoked it." "I informed him that if I had hit the same ball, the right fielder would have moved in,"
The high numbers, in my opinion, are usually difficult to overcome, remarked Judge. "It's very good to get that out of the way and get a win."
This year, Judge has hit 42 home runs and is on pace to hit 67. He shares the record for the most hits before August 1 in MLB history with Sammy Sosa, two behind Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire. Bonds currently maintains the mark with 73 home runs in 2001.
Judge, a free agent at the end of the season, has played in 10 games since the All-Star break with nine home runs, 21 RBIs, and a batting average of.436. Judge has connected for 36 home runs over his previous 79 games after hitting just one in his first 13 games, and he is currently on track to break Roger Maris' 1961 club record of 61.
Boone described Judge as "a person more able to go through anything like that." "I know what he's really about, and that's this team and us winning, and nothing will stand in our way of that," the speaker said.
All-Star Yankee In five innings, Nestor Cortes (9-3) gave up two runs. In the second inning, he turned in a clever fielding play, catching Hunter Dozier at third after slipping to the ground while fielding MJ Melendez's grounder. He struck out five and walked two. Cortes has made five starts in July with a 2.60 ERA.
Boone added, "Had a little bit of traffic throughout the game that he was able to maneuver through, but overall, I thought he threw the ball well.
Heasley (1-6), who made his first start since July 9 and was reinstated off the injured list prior to the game after missing 17 games due to right shoulder tendinitis, gave up six runs over three and a third innings.
In the fourth inning, the Yankees took advantage of consecutive Kansas City errors to put the game away. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was able to advance to third after rookie Maikel Garcia mishandled Isiah Kiner-pop-up Falefa's and Merrifield botched Nicky Lopez's throw on Jose Trevino's grounder. Heasley was pursued by LeMahieu with a single to center, and Andrew Benintendi hit a sacrifice fly off of reliever Wyatt Mills. LeMahieu recorded three hits in all.
Manager of Kansas City Mike Matheny remarked, "You make mistakes against talented teams, they're going to make you pay." They forced us to pay.
In order to earn his second career save, Clarke Schmidt worked the final three outs after Aroldis Chapman's scoreless inning.
Garcia singled in the fourth to score his first career RBI and bring home Kansas City's second run.
For the first time since 2019, New York held its annual Old-Timers' Day ceremony prior to the game, but the customary lighthearted exhibition game was not played.
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