ARLINGTON, Texas, Oct 4 — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge set the American League home run record on Tuesday, as he hit his 62nd home run of the year. His 62nd home run came in their doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Judge’s home run passed outfielder Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs that he set back in the 1961 season as a member of the Yankees. As for the doubleheader, the Rangers and Yankees split the two games. The Yankees took the first game by a final score of 5–4, and the Rangers won the second game by a final score of 3–2.
Game One Offense
Even before the first pitch of the first game, fans were clamoring for Judge to hit his bomb, but it would have to wait a few hours. The Yankees got on the board in the top of the first inning in the first game. It came in the form of a solo home run by Oswaldo Cabrera. The Rangers answered back in the bottom of the frame. Nathaniel Lowe, and Adolis Garcia scored on a single by Josh Jung. This gave the Rangers a 2–1 lead. The Yankees quickly tied it in the top of the second inning on a solo shot by Oswald Peraza. This marked the first home run in Peraza’s major league career.
The Yankees broke the tie three innings later on a single to left field that drove in Peraza. Once again, the Rangers answered back in the very next inning. They took a 4–3 lead on Adolis Garcia’s 27th home run of the year. The blast went to left-center field, and it drove in Corey Seager in the process. The Yankees tied it in the top of the eighth inning. This happened on a solo homer by Kyle Higashioka. Later in the inning, the Yankees scored what would be the winning run for them. Aaron Judge crossed the plate on a single to left field by Harrison Bader.
Game Two Offense
The big moment for Aaron Judge came in the top of the first inning in the second game on Tuesday. Judge led off the game, and blasted a 1-1 fastball out to left field for his 62nd home run of the 2022 season. There was quite a buzz around Globe Life Field, as fans all rose for Judge to give him a very well-deserved standing ovation. The buzz around the ballpark lasted long after the final pitch had been thrown. The game, however, was just getting started. The Rangers scored the tying run in the bottom of the first inning.
Marcus Semien scored on a single to right field Adolis Garcia. The game would stay tied until the top of the fifth inning. Giancarlo Stanton connected for his 31st home run of the season of Rangers lefty Kolby Allard. With the score at 2–1 in favor of the Yankees, Leody Taveras stepped up to the plate, and hit a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Rangers a 3–2 lead. That lead would be enough to secure the victory for the Rangers over Aaron Judge and the Yankees.
Additional Notes
Aaron Judge is just the fourth player in major league baseball history to hit at least 62 home runs in a season. He joins Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire (2x), and Sammy Sosa (3x). It was his fourth leadoff home run of 2022 (last 9/4 against the Tampa Bay Rays), his tenth HR overall in the first inning of a game. It was the 24th different park in which he has homered in his career. This was also his sixth home run overall in Arlington (five at Globe Life Park in Arlington).
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players Mentioned:
Roger Maris, Oswaldo Cabrera, Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis Garcia, Josh Jung, Oswald Peraza, Corey Seager, Kyle Higashioka, Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader, Marcus Semien, Giancarlo Stanton, Kolby Allard, Leody Taveras, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa
