ANAHEIM, California – Aaron Judge hit his 275th home run, Juan Soto opened things up with a bases-clearing triple in the seventh inning and the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Thursday night.
Judge joined Lou Gehrig as the only Yankees player to have at least 12 home runs and 12 doubles in a month with a two-run shot off Patrick Sandoval (2-8) in the fourth inning. Gehrig accomplished the feat in July 1930.
It was also Judge’s 18th long ball of the season, which is tied with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Houston’s Kyle Tucker for the MLB lead.
“Just a special player doing special things,” coach Aaron Boone said. “I thought we needed a dose of energy. Judge’s homer kept them going. To put together another great inning (in the seventh) and then Carlos (Rodón) to give us another strong start was big.”
Despite the victory, the Yankees had two broken hits.
Anthony Volpe went 0 for 4, ending his 21-game hitting streak. He tied Arizona’s Ketel Marte for most time in the majors this season.
Rodón (7-2) gave up three runs in six-plus innings, ending an MLB starting lineup’s record streak of 16 games, going at least five innings and allowing two runs or fewer.
“Volpe, what a race it has been for him too. To get over 20 games, especially now, is pretty impressive,” Boone said. “As far as pitchers go, sign me up for more than the six innings and three runs that Carlos gave us. Another strong outing for one of our starters.”
Logan O’Hoppe hit his fourth home run in eight games, but the Angels’ domestic problems continued. They have lost five of six during their homestand and are 7-21 in The Big A this season.
After Soto led off the inning with a walk, Judge put the Yankees on top when he hit a Sandoval sweep that didn’t stand much of a chance and hit 433 feet into the stands in left-center. The home run also tied Judge with Jorge Posada for eighth most in franchise history.
“We were a little slow, a little flat, couldn’t really get anything going,” Judge said. “Hitting that home run to give us an advantage, especially Carlos, with the way he was handling it… The (four) strikeouts (the judge had) will stay with me, but I’m happy with the win.”
Sandoval struck out seven in six innings and allowed two runs and two hits. The homer for the judge, however, looked big.
“One bad pitch he made he probably shouldn’t have thrown,” Sandoval said. “Logan wanted a change and I should have given up. I didn’t have a lot of confidence or feeling for it from the beginning. I had confidence in the libero, I put him on the last time and left it aside when he got it right.”
O’Hoppe’s solo shot in the second was the only hit Rodón allowed in six innings. The left-hander hit the wall in the seventh as the first three runners reached base. He was lifted after Kevin Pillar’s RBI double.
The Angels had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh when Cole Tucker’s base hit to left drove in Pillar to end the starting streak.
Rodón, who has won his last five starts, allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out five.
The Yankees had a 2-1 lead after six innings before breaking open. Adam Cimber, who replaced starter Patrick Sandoval, allowed five of the six batters he faced to reach base, including four walking.
Cimber walked Oswaldo Cabrera and Volpe with the bases loaded to make it 4-1. José Suarez then came in and was greeted with Soto’s three-run triple into the right field corner.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Clarke Schmidt has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Monday, due to a right tackle strain.
Angels: 3B Miguel Sanó (left knee inflammation) had his rehabilitation period postponed after accidentally burning himself with a heating pad on Sunday while trying to treat his knee.
NEXT
Yankees: RHP Marcus Stroman (4-2, 2.76 ERA) earns the call-up for Friday’s series opener in San Francisco.
Angels: A short three-game road trip in Seattle. RHP José Soriano (2-5, 3.61 ERA) wins on Friday.
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