Aaron Judge hits two home runs, Yankees beat Rockies 10-3

NEW YORK – Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run in the first inning to become the fifth player with three 50-home run seasons. He hit another home run in the seventh inning as the New York Yankees crushed the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Sunday.

Judge reached 50 in New York’s 131st game. Two years ago, when he reached 62, breaking Roger Maris’ AL single-season record, Judge reached 50 in the Yankees’ 129th game.

After failing to hit a home run for the fifth straight game, Judge reached the milestone on Saturday when he hit an 0-2 changeup by Austin Gomber (4-9) and sent it into the Colorado bullpen behind the left-center field fence to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

Judge joins Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez as the only players with three 50-homer seasons. Ruth, McGwire and Sosa had four 50-homer seasons, while Rodriguez had two with Texas and another for the Yankees in 2007.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was also Judge’s 18th home run in the first inning this season, tying Rodriguez (2001), who holds the season record for an opening inning.

After being thrown out in the second inning and walking in the fifth, Judge hit a first-pitch fastball from rookie Jeff Criswell into the right-field seats for his 51st home run. After Judge crossed the plate and was greeted by his teammates, a curtain call followed.

Judge’s second home run came between solo hits by Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. It was the first time the Yankees hit three home runs in a row since September 17, 2020 against Toronto.

Gleyber Torres scored on Judge’s first home run and completed a three-run drive in the eighth inning.