The latest episode of the “Aaron Judge Show” proved to be one for the books, perhaps overshadowing yet another aspect of the New York Yankees’ recent success — the starting pitching.
Judge homered and doubled in the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the host San Diego Padres on Saturday, and he became the first major league player to have 11 homers and 12 doubles in a 20-game span. He homered for the fourth straight game and enters Sunday’s series finale tied for the most in the majors with 17.
New York manager Aaron Boone said nothing Judge does anymore comes as a surprise, adding that “what Aaron is doing is just what the greats do from time to time.”
“I’ve witnessed a lot of amazing baseball from Aaron Judge now for the last six, seven years. Any time he does something that’s a first, or unique, or whatever adjective you want to put on it, it frankly doesn’t surprise me just because I know how good he is, and when he gets locked in, it’s just different.”
Judge’s homer on Saturday came in the first inning, two batters after Anthony Volpe extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a leadoff single.
The Yankees clinched the series and are 13-2-2 in that department this season.
Sunday’s starter for New York, Clarke Schmidt (5-2, 2.59 ERA), is looking to extend a sparkling run for the rotation. After Marcus Stroman tossed six shutout innings in getting the win on Saturday, Yankees starters are 11-1 with a 0.78 ERA in their past 13 games.
Schmidt had a three-start winning streak snapped by the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, when he lasted just five innings and was chased from the game after throwing 100 pitches. He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks in a 6-3 loss. Schmidt has yet to face the Padres in his career.
About the only bright spot for San Diego on Saturday was the ninth homer of the season and first in 12 games for Fernando Tatis Jr. He is hitting just .184 (7-for-38) in his past 10 games.
Despite those numbers, Tatis “feels like he’s in a good place,” manager Mike Shildt said after Saturday’s game. “(Friday) night after the game, he said he felt good. … Big thing for him is being able to get the ball in the zone. He had a really good 0-2 to 3-2 walk (Friday) night, said he saw the ball good and felt good, and clearly put a good swing on the (home run) to center tonight, so I think those are good indicators for him.”
Right-hander Joe Musgrove (3-4, 6.14) will be making his second start for the Padres since returning from elbow inflammation. On Monday in Cincinnati, he was pulled after three innings and 65 pitches. He took the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
“It was more about Joe getting on the mound in real competition after three weeks off and getting his feet back under him. He’ll be better the next time out,” Shildt said, noting that Musgrove did not make a rehab start after his stint on the injured list.
Musgrove has made only one start against the Yankees, and it came exactly one year ago. In New York last May 26, he scattered six hits in six innings, allowing one run and no walks while striking out six to get the win.
–Field Level Media