Aaron Judge Breaks Home Run Drought, Leads Yankees to Victory

The Yankee captain blasted a grand slam in the seventh inning to give his team a 5-4 lead over the Boston Red Sox, extending their AL East lead to three games.

Aaron Judge's grand slam in the seventh inning on Friday night electrified Yankee Stadium and propelled the New York Yankees to a much-needed victory over the Boston Red Sox. With the Yankees trailing 4-1 and the bases loaded, Judge crushed a 2-0 pitch to deep right field, sending the ball soaring over the wall and giving his team a 5-4 lead.

The home run was a significant moment for Judge, as it broke a rare 16-game home run drought, the longest of his career. It came amidst what has arguably been Judge's best hitting season yet, with a .321 batting average, 1.143 OPS, and 130 RBIs.

Aaron Judge Breaks Home Run Drought, Leads Yankees to Victory

Prior to Friday's game, Judge had hit two home runs against the Colorado Rockies on August 26 but had struggled in the subsequent 15 games, hitting just .204 with 22 strikeouts. His previous longest homerless streak came during his rookie season in 2017, when he went 15 games without a home run from August 17 to September 2.

The grand slam was Judge's 52nd home run of the season, bringing him closer to potentially breaking his own American League record for most home runs in a season, which he set in 2022 with 62 home runs.

Aaron Judge Breaks Home Run Drought, Leads Yankees to Victory

The home run was a particularly sweet moment for Judge given his struggles in recent games. It also had a significant impact on the Yankees' playoff hopes, as the victory extended their lead in the AL East over the Baltimore Orioles to three games.

With his team trailing 4-1 and the bases loaded, Judge stepped up to the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Yankee Stadium crowd erupted in anticipation, and Judge did not disappoint. He sent the ball soaring over the right-field wall, giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

Aaron Judge Breaks Home Run Drought, Leads Yankees to Victory

The crowd roared its approval, and Judge's teammates mobbed him at home plate. It was a moment of triumph for the Yankees' captain, who has been carrying the team on his shoulders all season.

The home run was Judge's 52nd of the season, and it brought him closer to breaking his own American League record for most home runs in a season, which he set last year with 62 home runs.

In addition to his home run prowess, Judge has also been a force at the plate all season. He is currently hitting .321 with a 1.143 OPS and 130 RBIs.

With his team in contention for a World Series title, Judge is playing some of the best baseball of his career. He is a major reason why the Yankees are one of the favorites to win it all this year.