Aaron Judge launched two home runs in his first game at Oracle Park, Marcus Stroman was effective into the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 in the first of a three-game road series Friday night.
Judge, who is a native of Northern California, made the most of his homecoming with the 35th multiple-home run game in his nine major league seasons.
The Yankees trailed 1-0 when Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto hit back-to-back singles against Giants starter Jordan Hicks (4-2) in the third inning. Judge followed with a three-run homer to left field.
It was Judge’s 276th homer, which broke a tie with Jorge Posada for eighth place on the Yankees’ all-time list.
Judge, who had reportedly considered a lucrative contract offer from the Giants before he re-signed with the Yankees after the 2022 season, added a solo shot in the sixth, his 20th of the season.
New York broke the game opener later in the inning. Gleyber Torres singled and Anthony Rizzo doubled, and both scored on a passed ball by Patrick Bailey. Rizzo scored from second when reliever Taylor Rogers mishandled Bailey’s throw to the plate.
Hicks was charged with both of those runs, one of which was unearned. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks.
Stroman (5-2) gave up two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Judge, who also singled in the first inning, finished 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBIs and two runs. Rizzo added a single and a double to a nine-hit attack.
Bailey and Thairo Estrada had two hits apiece for the Giants, who dropped their second straight after winning 10 of 12.
–Field Level Media