ARLINGTON, TX — All rise, case closed, Aaron Judge is the new home run king! In the top of the first inning, Judge deposited a 1-1 slider from Jesus Tinoco, into the leftfield stands for home run No. 62 on the season. He surpassed Roger Maris’s magical 61 for the Yankees franchise and American League (and some say the clean) single-season home run record.
SIXTY-TWO! BASEBALL HISTORY! @TheJudge44 is the American League home run King! pic.twitter.com/QKrcuOvZMU
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2022
It took 24 plate appearances between home runs 61 and 62. During the first game of the doubleheader, one could tell that Judge was both parts eager and frustrated in his attempts to hit the mark. Yet, in the nightcap, he collected himself and leading off clobbered his record-setting clout. From there, the ballpark, dugout, and Judge could finally find that sense of jubilation and relief.
Whether he plays in Game 162 or not, Judge’s remarkable season has him sporting the second-highest batting average in the junior circuit, along with the most home runs and RBI and should be perfectly lined up for the AL MVP.
Oh by the way, in the bottom half of that first frame, Gerrit Cole set the Yankees single-season strikeout record with 249 and topped out with 257.
2⃣4⃣9⃣ Strikeouts | @GerritCole45
The most by any pitcher in a single season in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/8K8ySQ4y8F
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2022
Two single-season Yankee records falling in the same inning of the same game. How about that?
Judge and Cole also became the third pair of Yankee teammates to lead the league in HRs and K’s, joining Joe DiMaggio and Lefty Gomez in 1937 and Lou Gehrig and Gomez in 1934.
While the Yankees ultimately fell 3-2, their ledger stands at 99-62. Go figure.
