Aaron Judge comes agonizingly close to hitting record-tying 61st home run after being walked 3 times
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Aaron Judge comes painfully close to hitting record-tying 61st home run with social media sending ‘thoughts and prayers’ to Yankees fans… after Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha is punched for walking the slugger
- After being given three clear passes for the first time, Judge’s late shot to center was caught just before a home run
- Fans at Yankee Stadium hoped Judge would hit a record-tying 61st home run
- New York’s Josh Donaldson hit a walk-off single to give the Yankees a win
- With that win, the Yankees have reached the playoffs for the sixth year in a row
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The Bronx was on the edge of his seat waiting for Aaron Judge to hit a home run that would break a long-held franchise record in Thursday night’s game between the Yankees and Red Sox.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Judge – who has 4 walkoff home runs to his name – stepped to the plate to try and add one more to his season count.
On a 2-2 delivery delivered by Matt Barnes, Judge swung and connected with the ball, sending it deep into midfield. The ball fell just yards from the wall and landed in the glove of Red Sox outfielder Kike Hernandez.
Aaron Judge made contact with the ball in the bottom of the ninth, but it just missed homer 61.
Yankee Stadium thought it was history when the ball sailed towards the wall of centerfield, but instead the net missed.
At home, the camera trying to find the ball made it look like it was launched into orbit, but after discovering it fell to the ground, it was all in vain.
Fans on Twitter had mixed reactions – from shock that he didn’t hit the home run to anger at the cameraman.
Fans watching the game reacted when Aaron Judge fell just yards from a home run
Earlier in the game, fans were delighted when Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha walked Judge in his first two at bats of the game.
‘[Red Sox manager] Alex Cora said they’re going after Judge. They’ve let him out 3 out of 4 times now,” tweeted baseball writer Jon Heyman.
In extra innings, Yankees batter Josh Donaldson singled that runner Marwin Gonzalez scored from second base to win the game 5-4 in ten innings.
With that win, the Yankees have advanced to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. They currently lead the AL East with 7.5 games over the Toronto Blue Jays, with the magic number seven to make it to the division.
Judge faces Rich Hill on the mound tomorrow night as his chase for No. 61 home run continues.
After going 0-2 with three walks, Aaron Judge tries again tomorrow night against Rich Hill