Aaron Judge hits two homers, ties Joe DiMaggio as Yankees rout Tigers 9-3
Judge connected for career homers No. 360 and No. 361 as New York celebrated the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11 with President Trump in attendance
Aaron Judge hit two home runs and moved into the top five on the New York Yankees’ all-time home run list as the Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3 on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
Judge opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning off Tyler Holton and added a second solo shot in the third against Sawyer Gipson-Long. Those long balls were recorded as career homers No. 360 and No. 361 for Judge, placing him alongside Joe DiMaggio in fourth on the franchise leaderboard. Only Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493) remain ahead of him.
The Yankees took control early and led 9-1 after the fourth inning. New York’s bullpen, which has shown signs of strain at times this season, allowed two late runs but did not relinquish the lead, and the game concluded 9-3 in favor of the home team.
Thursday’s game carried added significance as the Yankees and the city observed the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. President Donald Trump attended the game and visited the Yankees’ clubhouse before first pitch, speaking briefly with Judge.
Judge’s two-homer night continued a season in which he has remained a consistent offensive presence for New York. While the homers added to his growing franchise totals, commentators and columnists have noted that a World Series title remains absent from the résumé of Judge’s time with the Yankees, a distinction only resolved through postseason success.
The victory kept the Yankees moving through a September stretch that historically shapes playoff positioning. New York’s offense produced early and often against a Detroit pitching staff that was unable to contain the power display, and the club escaped a late-inning bullpen wobble to secure the win.
Judge’s rise on the Yankees’ all-time home run list underscores the player’s place among the franchise’s storied sluggers. He joins DiMaggio in the fourth spot and continues to chase the remaining names atop the chart, with Ruth, Mantle and Gehrig standing as the franchise leaders by a wide margin.
The Yankees return to action Friday night, aiming to build on the momentum from Thursday’s home victory as they pursue the regular-season results and potential postseason positioning that will shape Judge’s opportunities for championship success.