Aaron Judge becomes first Yankees player EVER to hit three home runs twice in a single season as he inspires win over the Diamondbacks
- The judge received a curtain call from the fans in attendance after the performance
- No Yankees slugger before him had hit three home runs twice in one season
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Aaron Judge etched his name in the history books of the New York Yankees by becoming the first player ever to hit three home runs twice in one season.
Judge was at his brilliant best as the Yankees pulled off a 7-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, first hitting a three-run homer in the third inning and then a two-run shot in the fifth off rookie starter Brandon Pfaadt.
It was in the seventh when the New York star slugger made history by adding his record third home run of the night by reaching the second deck in right field with a solo drive off Slade Cecconi.
No Yankees slugger before him had ever managed to do it twice in the same season, earning Judge a special place in franchise history.
After rounding the bases, the reigning AL MVP even got a curtain call as he received a standing ovation from fans at Yankee Stadium.
Aaron Judge etched his name in the history books of the New York Yankees on Friday evening
Judge has become the first Yankees player ever to hit three home runs twice in one season
His record-breaking performance helped the Yankees claim a 7-1 victory over the Diamondbacks
Judge also doubled in his second career three-homer game, both in the past month. He also went three deep at home against Washington on August 23 to help the Yankees stop their first nine-game losing streak since 1982.
His first home run gave New York a 3-0 lead. Two batters after Pfaadt made a mistake by misplaying Oswald Peraza’s soft comebacker, Judge lifted a sinker on the first pitch to right-center into the Yankees’ bullpen. His two-run drive to right-center in the fifth made it 6-0.
Judge is hitting .267 with 35 home runs and 70 RBIs in 100 games this season. It was his eighth career four-hit game and fourth game with at least six RBIs.
He also missed nearly eight weeks after spraining his right big toe on June 3 at Dodger Stadium before returning to the lineup on July 28.
The five-time All-Star hit 62 home runs last season, breaking the previous American League record of 61 set by former Yankees slugger Roger Maris in 1961.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks (81-73) saw their five-game winning streak halted and their lead over the Cubs cut to one game for the second of three wild-card spots in the National League.
Trying to avoid their first losing season since going 76-86 in 1992 during Buck Showalter’s first season as manager, the Yankees moved two games above .500 to 78-76.
After rounding the bases, the reigning AL MVP even got a curtain call that night
In his second start since being claimed off waivers from Seattle on September 14, Luke Weaver (3-5) allowed four hits in 5 1/3 innings for his first win since July 3 with Cincinnati.
Jhony Brito allowed Christian Walker’s 31st homer and pitched 3 2/3 innings for his first career save.
Pfaadt allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts.
Arizona returns to Yankee Stadium for the second game of the series on Sunday afternoon.