Despite going 1-4 with no home runs in the win over the Red Sox, Aaron Judge's struggles at the plate have not hindered the Yankees' success, who now hold a two-game lead in the American League East.
Aaron Judge's historic home run chase has come to an abrupt halt, with the New York Yankees slugger failing to hit a homer in a career-high 16 games. Despite his recent slump, Judge remains a formidable force at the plate, helping the Yankees secure a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in 10 innings on Thursday.
Judge went 1-4 with a single and a walk in the win, but his power stroke was conspicuously absent. He hit a first-inning drive that Wilyer Abreu caught in front of the right-field wall and a 104.7 mph grounder that third baseman Rafael Devers grabbed with a spinning stop and turned into an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning.
Aaron Judge's Home Run Drought Continues, But Yankees Remain Victorious
Judge's current home runless streak is his longest since his rookie season in 2017, when he went 15 games without a homer. However, the six-time All-Star is still hitting .204 (11 for 54) with 22 strikeouts in his last 15 games.
Despite his recent struggles, Judge has had a remarkable season overall, leading the major leagues with 51 home runs and 126 RBIs while hitting .319. The reigning American League MVP is also on pace to break Roger Maris' AL single-season home run record of 61, which Judge set last year with 62 home runs.
Aaron Judge's Home Run Drought Continues, But Yankees Remain Victorious
Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains confident in Judge's ability to overcome his current slump. "Homers, even for guys like him, they still come in bunches, and you're going to have those stretches," Boone said. "I guess it's amazing that he has avoided those. But, I mean, that's just a testament to how good of a hitter and how much power he has."
Judge's teammates also believe that the home runs will soon start coming again. "He's getting base hits. He's getting on base. He's creating traffic," starting pitcher Nestor Cortes said. "The homers haven't been there, but I know they'll come. He's a big boy."
Aaron Judge's Home Run Drought Continues, But Yankees Remain Victorious
In the meantime, the Yankees have continued to win without Judge's power surge. With their extra-innings victory on Thursday, they now hold a two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.
Judge and the Yankees will look to extend their division lead when they face the Red Sox again on Friday. Despite Judge's recent struggles, the Yankees remain confident that he will eventually break out of his home run drought and continue to lead them to victories.
