Aaron Judge’s mom seemed none too pleased about her son being intentionally walked on Monday night.
Patty Judge, who made the trip to Toronto as her son remains one home run shy of matching Roger Maris’ team and AL record of 61, shook her head as the Blue Jays intentionally walked her son in a 2-2 game in the 10th inning with runners on first and second to load the bases with two outs. Toronto had just brought in lefty Tim Mayza to replace righty Anthony Bass.
The YES Network broadcast showed Patty, who was sitting next to Roger Maris Jr. at the game, in disbelief as her son made his way down to first base. The move worked out for the Blue Jays, however, as the left-handed hitting Anthony Rizzo grounded out to end the threat, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won it for Toronto with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
“Just to see his mom shake her head, kind of bemused and frustrated, just think what you back at home, how frustrated you’re feeling that you don’t get a chance to see Judge, and then think that’s her son, and she’s watching every single at-bat waiting for him to do something so special,” Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay said on the broadcast. “So probably times it by a million by what you’re feeling at home.”
Patty watched her son along with husband Wayne and Judge’s wife Samantha as the Yankees outfielder chased history in The Bronx last week.
Judge has now gone six games without a home run since hitting his 60th of the season, tied for his third-longest drought of the year.
“Game on the line, that’s where you want to hit,” Judge said of the intentional walk. “But I trust every single guy in that lineup.”
The loss prevented the Yankees (94-59) from clinching the AL East. Their magic number over the Blue Jays (87-67) is two, so one win in the series will earn them the division. The three-game set continues Tuesday night and finishes Wednesday.
Should Judge remain stuck on 60 by then, his next chance at history will be back home Friday night against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
