New York Yankees' Aaron Judge stands in the dugout after his solo home run during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season at 62, passing Roger Maris. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Aaron Judge Sits Alone with 62

Less than one week after tying the AL record for most home runs in a season, Aaron Judge did it again.

On Sept. 28, Judge hit his 61st home run of the season, tying former Yankee Roger Maris’s record. Tuesday saw a doubleheader for the Yankees, matching up against the Texas Rangers, a team just getting in their final reps of the season. With Tuesday’s homer, Judge sits alone atop the AL with the single-season home run record.

How Judge Did It

After taking care of Texas five to four earlier in the day, New York prepared to do it again Tuesday night. Judge led off for the Yanks in the top of the first, and well, the rest is history.

Rangers starter Jesus Tinoco pitched a fastball outside and a slider for a strike to start off the at-bat. Tinoco, however, set up the Yankee outfielder with an 88mph slider almost down the middle for his 62nd home run this season.

Judge sent the ball 391 feet to left field with a 100.2 mph exit velocity.

His Story Keeps Getting Better

Judge signed a one-year deal to avoid arbitration, and then had one of the best seasons by a player in MLB history. When he hit his 61st to tie the record, it was only a matter of time before he broke it. In high fashion, Judge hits a leadoff homer to take the AL title for his own. Judge was later subbed out in the second inning.

Judge’s homer — while historic — was not enough to keep New York ahead of Texas, and the Yankees went on to drop the game, 3-2.

The Yankees clinched the AL East and a first-round bye, so they look ahead to competing for the World Series. Judge, on the other hand, has one regular season game left to try and add a homer or two more to the list.

About Jack Alperstein

Jack Alperstein is currently a sophomore at the University of Florida studying Sports Journalism.

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