Aaron Judge went hitless with two strikeouts in the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was 0-for-2 on Saturday before putting his fingerprints on the New York Yankees’ win with a home run and highlight-reel catch.
Judge’s first hit in the marquee series against the Dodgers was a solo home run off Shelby Miller to start the sixth inning. Then in the eighth inning, the two-time American League MVP took a hit away from J.D. Martinez by making a spectacular running catch in deep right field.
Judge’s momentum carried him into the bullpen gate, which busted open with the impact. The Yankees’ All-Star right fielder briefly limped and grimaced after throwing the ball back into the infield. However, all was well for the imposing giant.
“I got halfway out there and he was kind of pushing us back like, ‘I’m fine. I’m fine,'” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game.
“I just ran out and said, ‘I just wanted to tell you what a great catch it was.’ And then I wanted to go see what was going on.”
Took them a few minutes to fix the bullpen door after Aaron Judge ran into it for his catch. pic.twitter.com/xwrU5eIUsb
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) June 4, 2023
Judge added: “I’m feeling good. I think the fence got most of it. Thankfully, it was that part of the wall where there’s some give, so I think that saved my quite a bit. If it was a solid wall, I think we might be saying a different story. But made the play and we got out of the inning.”
After checking on Judge, Boone turned his focus to the umpires and Max Muncy being awarded second base. Despite a brief complaint from Boone, Muncy remained in scoring position because pursuant to MLB rules, he was granted the extra base due to Judge technically leaving the field of play.
“I wasn’t too happy with Muncy getting second base there,” Judge admitted. “I felt like I tumbled over and went out of play because the fence broke. I would’ve had an issue with that if they would’ve scored.”
For Martinez, the spectacular catch came in his final at-bat of the game and thus ended a 16-game hitting streak.
“It was a great catch,” Martinez said. “I was just hoping he dropped it.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked, “What a play,” and said he believed Martinez was going to wind up with a double.
Did Aaron Judge break Dodger Stadium fence?
As umpires sorted through where to place Muncy, Dodger Stadium grounds crew quickly worked to get the fence shut. It took them a handful of minutes as the door initially could not be shut.
The stadium workers ultimately got the bullpen gate to close and carried away a piece of metal that lined the bottom.
“I don’t mess with the fences,” answered Judge when asked if he broke the Dodger Stadium fence. “I’m pretty sure it was latched, closed up. So I don’t know how that happened. Hopefully it won’t happen tomorrow.”
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