Aaron Judge’s quest for home run No. 61 extends another day.
The slugger was intentionally walked by Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza with two runners on base and the game tied in the top of the 10th inning Monday, his 18th such walk of the season. The tactic paid off for the Blue Jays, who got out of the inning unscathed and won 3-2 on a walk-off single from Vlad Guerrero Jr. in the bottom of the 10th.
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Judge’s 60th home run came on Sept. 20 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Monday’s contest marked New York’s sixth game since he last went yard, Judge’s longest drought since he went homer-less over nine games from Aug. 13-21. Sunday’s game against the Red Sox was called after six innings due to rain with Judge set to bat again in the seventh.
The Yankees have nine games remaining in the regular season and Judge needs two home runs to break Roger Maris’ American League record. The 30-year-old’s 60 home runs are 18 more than any other MLB player this season, with Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber in second place with 42.
After going 1-for-3 Monday, Judge’s .314 batting average is tied with Xander Bogaerts’ mark for the best in the AL. Judge leads the league with 128 RBIs.
With a win Monday, New York would have clinched the AL East title.
(Photo: John E. Sokolowski / USA Today)