Spectacular Catch: Aaron Judge's Heroics Steal the Show in Yankees' Victory Over Dodgers
In Hollywood, where the stars always shine bright, Aaron Judge's latest catch has received rave reviews and is being hailed as a major success. In Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Judge made a spectacular catch in the eighth inning, racing at full speed to snatch a potential extra-base hit from J.D. Martinez before crashing through the right-field bullpen gate at Dodger Stadium.
Reflecting on the catch, Judge credited the give in the wall for saving him from a more severe impact. It was a remarkable addition to Judge's highlight reel, occurring while Michael King was on the mound and Max Muncy was at first base. Martinez hit a sliced shot in the opposite direction, prompting Judge, who stands at 6-foot-7, to stretch up and catch the ball just before colliding with the chain-link fence. Statcast data revealed that Judge covered an impressive 79 feet in 4.7 seconds to make the play, which had a 50 percent catch probability.
The catch left everyone in awe, with teammates and opposing players alike heaping praise on Judge. Yankees manager Aaron Boone likened the play to Rodney McCray's famous 1991 catch where he crashed through an outfield wall, highlighting the magnitude of Judge's feat. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Judge's catch potentially changed the course of the inning and commended his outstanding play.
After the impact, Judge appeared momentarily shaken but waved off the concerned group of teammates and staff who approached him. Boone expressed admiration for the catch, and Judge, sporting a grin, told them to focus on finishing the inning. While Judge mentioned some discomfort in his toes, it remains uncertain whether he will play in the series finale on Sunday.
Judge's heroics didn't end there. He also had a two-homer game, continuing his impressive performance during the West Coast swing. Earlier in the contest, he hit his league-leading 19th home run. Boone expressed his appreciation for Judge's exceptional skills and leadership, recognizing him as one of the great players of the game.
Ultimately, Judge's gate-bending catch stole the spotlight, overshadowing Jake Bauers' first career multihomer game. Bauers praised Judge's incredible play and acknowledged its game-changing impact. Gerrit Cole, who pitched six solid innings before being removed due to cramping, witnessed the catch from the cold tub, further emphasizing the magnitude of Judge's feat