Yankees’ Aaron Judge Shines in Homecoming Against Giants
Judge’s Stellar Performance in Oracle Park Debut
One of the National League’s top pitchers lately will go head to head against one of the game’s most sultry hitters as Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants have Aaron Judges and the New York Yankees on Saturday night.
Aaron Judge made a noteworthy Oracle Park debut with two home runs in the series opener on Friday, driving in four races to lead the Yankees to a 6-2 triumph. This undeniable a strong beginning for Judge, showing his capacity to rule every step of the way.
Judge vs. Webb: A Rematch
Judge and Webb had their first duel on Opening Day last season, with both players having highlights to boast about. Judge, playing at home, smashed the second pitch he saw from Webb over the center-field fence, giving the Yankees an early lead in a 5-0 triumph. Webb recovered to strike out Judge in their next two matchups, recording 12 strikeouts in six innings.
This rematch is highly anticipated, with both players looking to outshine the other. Webb’s consistency and Judge’s explosive batting set the stage for a thrilling contest.
Comparing to Giants’ Starter Jordan Hicks
Jordan Hicks, who started for the Giants on Friday, struggled against Judge. After a first-inning single, Judge blasted home runs to left and center fields off Hicks. This performance came after Judge admitted he “definitely” considered signing with the Giants as a free agent after the 2022 season.
“When you’re a free agent, you’re looking at all the different options and seeing how it’s going to turn out,” said Judge, a native of Linden, about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco. “It would have been a great place to play.”
Despite any anxiety about his homecoming, Judge’s at-bats didn’t show it. He took Hicks to a fifth pitch before hitting a first-inning single, then found his home run pitches on 3-1 and 3-2 counts.
Judge’s May Performance
Judge’s performance was a fitting culmination to May. Entering the month hitting .207, he posted a .371 average with 14 homers and 27 RBIs during the month.
“When he’s hot, he’s tough to deal with,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “You throw good pitches, he fouls them off or he takes them and waits for one good pitch. When you throw him a pitch he can handle, that’s what he does with it. It’s tough to work around him, too. That’s a pretty good lineup, especially the top portion down to about six at least.”
Webb’s Recent Performance
Logan Webb (4-4, 2.74 ERA) will be making just his second career start against the Yankees. In addition to allowing a home run to Gleyber Torres in last year’s defeat, Webb has gone unbeaten in his past three starts, allowing just two earned runs in 19 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Mets.
Yankees’ Pitching Plans
The Yankees are expected to promote right-hander Cody Poteet (1-0, 1.50) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to fill the rotation spot left vacant by Clarke Schmidt, who went on the injured list after suffering a strained right lat last Sunday at San Diego.
Poteet won his only big-league start this season on April 13 at Cleveland in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing one run in six innings of an 8-2 victory. He’s gone 3-0 with a 4.05 ERA in seven Triple-A starts. The 29-year-old San Diego native has never faced the Giants in his three-year big-league career.
Conclusion
As the Yankees proceed with their series against the Giants, everyone’s eyes will be on the rematch between Aaron Judge and Logan Webb. With Judge in top structure and the Yankees’ setup performing emphatically, Saturday night’s down vows to be an astonishing conflict in the MLB. Webb will plan to contain Judge’s power, while Poteet hopes to establish serious areas of strength for an in his second major association beginning of the time.
With both teams bringing their A-game, fans are in for a thrilling matchup that highlights the intense competition and talent in the MLB.