Aaron Judge steals the homer from Shohei Ohtani with juggling catch
By Bryan High | 26 minutes ago
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NEW YORK — Aaron Judge said the Yankees would have to “do our best” to face Shohei Ohtani and the Angels. The captain confirmed those words in the first inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 win and carried the Yankees until Gleyber Torres hit a walk-off victim fly in the 10th.
Judge robbed Ohtani of a home run with a terrific jump hold against the midfield wall, then launched a two-run blaster for his sixth home run of the season, with rookie starter Jhony Brito taking an early lead.
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Ohtani’s drive-off Brito appeared to be his second homer in as many games, and Judge needed every inch of his 6-foot-7 frame to keep the ball from landing in Monument Park.
The ball came off Ohtani’s racquet at 111.5 miles per hour, hit Judge on the heel of his glove and then bounced out. Judge secured the ball with his bare hands, then grinned in relief.
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Later in the game, Judge made another highlight reel play to end the 8th inning with a wide dive catch. All he needed was his glove.
Judge, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, also took a potential homer from Ohtani in midfield at Yankee Stadium on May 31. That drive went a little more towards left field, with Judge pulling it back with a jump off the loading dock.
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The judge’s homer came on a 3-2 pitch from Angels starter Griffin Canning with Anthony Volpe on base, leaving the batter at 111.7 mph and traveling a Statcast-projected 412 feet toward the visiting bullpen.