Aaron Judge becomes 5th player in MLB history with 3 50-homer seasons as Yankees beat Rockies 10-3
Aaron Judge Becomes Fifth MLB Player with Three 50-Homer Seasons as Yankees Dominate Rockies 10-3 Aaron Judge made history on Sunday as he hit a two-run homer in the first inning, becoming only the fifth player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to record three 50-homer seasons. Judge, who added another home run in the…
Aaron Judge Becomes Fifth MLB Player with Three 50-Homer Seasons as Yankees Dominate Rockies 10-3
Aaron Judge made history on Sunday as he hit a two-run homer in the first inning, becoming only the fifth player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to record three 50-homer seasons. Judge, who added another home run in the seventh inning, led the New York Yankees to a commanding 10-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Judge’s first-inning blast came off a 0-2 changeup from Rockies’ pitcher Austin Gomber, sending the ball into the Colorado bullpen beyond the left-center field fence. This home run gave the Yankees an early 2-1 lead and marked Judge’s 50th of the season, a milestone he reached in the Yankees’ 131st game. This achievement follows his 62-home run season two years ago, during which he hit his 50th in the Yankees’ 129th game.
By reaching this milestone, Judge joins an elite group of players—Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodriguez—as the only ones to have at least three 50-homer seasons. Among them, Ruth, McGwire, and Sosa have four such seasons, while Rodriguez achieved the feat twice with the Texas Rangers and once with the Yankees in 2007.
Judge’s first-inning homer was also his 18th in the first inning this season, tying the single-season record for opening-inning home runs set by Rodriguez in 2001, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
After a flyout in the second inning and a walk in the fifth, Judge came back strong in the seventh, crushing a first-pitch fastball from rookie Jeff Criswell into the right field seats for his 51st homer of the season. This home run occurred between solo shots by teammates Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, marking the first time since September 17, 2020, against Toronto that the Yankees hit three consecutive home runs.
Gleyber Torres, who scored on Judge’s first home run, also contributed significantly with a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Judge’s performance on Sunday capped off an impressive streak—homering for the seventh time in his last six games and for the 10th time in his last 13 games. He has now hit 47 home runs in his last 102 games. The game also marked Judge’s 39th career multi-homer game and his fifth of the season.
Despite his success, Judge was denied a chance at a third home run when he grounded out to end the eighth inning. Torres and Soto also added RBI singles in the second inning, but Judge saw six consecutive curveballs in the at-bat and flew out with two runners on base.
On the Rockies’ side, Charlie Blackmon scored on a forceout in the first inning after third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. committed two errors. Rookie Drew Romo added an RBI single, and Ryan McMahon hit an RBI double in the fifth inning.
Yankees’ starter Marcus Stroman (9-6) delivered a solid performance, allowing three runs and five hits over five innings. Rockies’ pitcher Gomber (4-9) took the loss, giving up four runs and six hits in six innings.
**Injury Updates and Upcoming Matchups**
For the Yankees, right-handed pitcher Ian Hamilton (strained right lat) struck out three in his first rehab appearance for Double-A Somerset on Saturday. First baseman Anthony Rizzo (fractured right forearm) was the designated hitter in his second rehab game for Somerset, going 0 for 3. Right-hander Cody Poteet (strained right triceps) allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings during his second rehab start for Somerset. Infielder Jon Berti (strained left calf) went 0 for 2 in his second rehab game for Somerset.
The Rockies are expected to activate right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner (1-10, 5.00 ERA) from the injured list for the opener of a four-game series against the Miami Marlins on Monday in Denver. He will face Miami’s right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-5, 5.65 ERA).
Meanwhile, the Yankees will begin a three-game series in Washington on Monday, with left-hander Nestor Cortes (7-10, 4.00 ERA) set to oppose Washington’s left-hander Mitchell Parker (7-7, 4.26 ERA).