'Again 2022' Judge hits 64 home runs at a pace in the second half, he says "Winning is a great record"
Aug 23, 2024
|
|
Judge recorded one hit, one RBI, two runs and one walk in three at-bats against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on the 23rd (Korea time). The Yankees won 6-0 with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton's two home runs and starter Gerrit Cole's good pitching, ending the three consecutive games with a 2-1 winning series.
Judge hit a home run in his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning when he faced 0-0. At ball count 2B1S, Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams pushed a 91.6-mile outside changeup on the fourth pitch and connected with a solo shot over the right fence. It has a shooting angle of 32 degrees, a batting speed of 104.6 miles, and a distance of 360 feet.
Judge marked seven RBIs and four runs, including four home runs, in three consecutive home games, and has six home runs in the last seven games. Judge's fourth home run in three consecutive games this season and his 14th in total.
Judge, who hit 48 home runs in the team's 128 games, calculates that if he maintains his current pace, he will hit 60.75 home runs in 162 games.
Judge hit 62 home runs two years ago, breaking Roger Maris' 61 home run in 1961 and setting an AL season record, becoming the MVP of his life. Judge, who hit 34 home runs in 98 games in the first half and had a 56-homer pace, hit 14 home runs in 30 games in the second half. If the pace of the second half is applied to the remaining 34 games, he can add 16 home runs in the future to finish the season with 64 home runs. In other words, he can break his AL record in two years.
Judge hit 49 homers in 128 games for his team in 2022. There is only one less than that this season. Judge is the third player in history to have more than 48 home runs in 128 games played by his team, following Sammy Sosa (1998, 1999, 2001) and Mark Maguire (1998, 1999).
|
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, `We think he's on pace for the season now. Look, anything is possible for him. He leads the victory with tremendous performance every day. Whatever you do, it's not surprising at all." On the same day, winning pitcher Cole also praised "It's a really amazing experience to be on the same team as Jersey."
Cole allowed one hit, five walks, two strikeouts and no runs in six innings, and won five wins (two losses) this season, reaching the 150th victory mark in his career. He is the fourth active pitcher after Justin Verlander (260 wins), Max Scherzer (216 wins), and Clayton Kershaw (212 wins).
Cole didn't give up an additional hit after allowing leadoff hitter Stephen Kwan to hit right in the top of the first inning. Tim Hill, Luke Weaver and Michael Tonkin, who took the mound afterwards, also finished the game with no hits and no runs. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time in Yankees history that an additional hit was not allowed after giving up a hit to the leadoff hitter of the game.
The Yankees, who marked 75 wins and 53 losses, finished first in the AL, while Cleveland remained first in the Central Division with 73 wins and 54 losses
jhno@sportschosun.com
