A day after Alex Rodriguez played his final game for the New York Yankees, the team called up top prospect Aaron Judge, who will make his major league debut on Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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NOTES: The Yankees made five roster moves Saturday as they officially released DH Alex Rodriguez and purchased the contract of OF Aaron Judge and OF/IF Tyler Austin from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Saturday marked the first time since 1969 (C John Ellis and CF Jim Lyttle) that NY started two players making their major league debuts.2. Judge joined Joe Lefebvre (May 22-23, 1980) as the only players to homer for the Yankees in their first two big league games.
It was impossible not to draw parallels with the Yankees’ Core Four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera in the house Saturday.
Only once before had two players homered in the first at-bat of their debuts in the same game, and they were on opposing teams: Brooklyn’s Earnie Koy and the Phillies’ Heinie Mueller in the first inning at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl on April 19, 1938. He’s in the lineup and making his big league debut on Saturday against Matt Andriese and the Rays. (Brian McCann hit one 450 feet.) The Yankees say Judge is the third player to hit a home run off the windows of the restaurant – it looks like the ball hit over the windows though, right? – joining Russell Branyan and Carlos Correa. The average age of the five home run hitters is just 25.
Receiving their first recognition from the Bleacher Creatures in the game-opening roll call, they joined 23-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez, who entered the game hitting.357 (10 for 28) with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs since he was brought up August 3.
The past 48 hours could be seen as a watershed moment for the New York Yankees.
“When you put the type of career that he’s put together, I definitely think he’s earned every bit of that”, Cash said.
“I’m pulling for him as much as he’s pulling for me”, Austin said. Then, Judge stepped up to the plate and crushed the fourth longest home run ever hit at Yankee Stadium, traveling 457 feet. Austin is likely stuck at first base, though he has played corner outfield in the minors.
Tanaka retired Tampa Bay’s first 10 batters before Kevin Kiermaier reached on a bunt single, Longoria singled and Miller homered into the left-field seats for a 3-2 lead.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch these guys come up and have the little bit of success they’ve had early on these first couple of days”, said Brett Gardner, who missed his second straight game due to a swollen right ankle.
There will be growing pains for the Baby Bombers, as evidenced by the Tampa Bay Rays’ 12-3 victory.
The Rays took a 3-2 lead in the 4th, but Starlin Castro hit a home run, his 14th of the season, to tie it back up. The White Sox trailed 7-6 to start the eighth but rallied with the help of a walk, two wild pitches and Justin Morneau’s first pinch-hit of the year, a double.
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