CINCINNATI — There were many reasons to join Aaron Judge in the 10th inning of the Yankees game against the Reds on Saturday afternoon. Judge is the hottest hitter in the world and first base was open.
Both Judge and Rizzo managed to win the Yankees 7-4 in 10 innings in front of a sold-out crowd of 41,374 at Great American Ball Park.
Greg Allen, whom the Yankees acquired in a trade the day before, was used second in the 10th game. He moved up to third place on the Gleyber Torres flyout and scored with Judge’s single.
“After Gleyber beat him, it was all about me getting a pitch,” Judge said. “I was a bit aggressive there. I put it in play to bring him in and primed Rizz to do the real damage.”
Rizzo did just that. He followed that up with his second two-run home run — both by Ian Gibaut — in as many days and his 24th long ball at Great American Ball Park, the second-highest as a guest player (Ryan Braun, 28). Not to be outdone, Judge was 4 of 4 with three RBIs that day. Judge and Rizzo each hit a home run in Friday night’s 6-2 win.
As batsmen Nos. 2 and 3, Judge and Rizzo carried the Yankees, who won five of six and ten of 14, taking their record to 28-20.
Judge sometimes outshines Rizzo with his larger-than-life performances, but Judge never overlooks his teammate.
“I could start in a lot of different places,” Judge said when asked what Rizzo means to the team. “What he does in the clubhouse. He’s a leader. He motivates guys. He picks up boys. Then what happens on the field? He’s a great first baseman. One clutch hit after another.”
“He’s a big part of this team. That’s why he fits right in the middle of this ranking. He was in the thick of some of our biggest wins.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Rizzo, “He was our rock. He was rock solid at the start of the year. He was the only constant. When Judgie missed those 10, 11 days or whatever, Anthony was right in the thick of it. He is.” Hit for power. He’s one of our leaders. He was huge.”
Neither Rizzo nor Judge expected the Reds to accompany Judge.
“I went in there expecting to be hit, [and] “Having Rizz helps,” Judge said.
“I thought it was possible,” Boone said. “Besides, you’re just one punch away from getting him. You have a heavy hit on the deck. You may be putting the second run on base. As great as Judge is, you have a shot at a strikeout there. That was me.” I’m not surprised.
Starter Jhony Brito went through four innings and gave up four runs in four hits. He walked four and knocked out six. The walks hurt him – two of the runs he conceded were made by batters he ran.
The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the first game thanks to an RBI single from Jake Fraley, who is now on a 10-game streak on base.
Judge leveled the game with a two-out and a 354-foot RBI single in the third game. Yes, a 354 foot single. The ball left the bat at 115.1 mph and reached the foot of the left wall so quickly that Judge didn’t have a chance to drive into second position.
Brito went over bases with two outs late in the inning before Spencer Steer completed a run with an infield single.
“I was trying to be too good in that inning,” said Brito.
In the fourth round, Brito had more two-out problems. Jose Barrero achieved an infield single. Luke Maile followed up with his third home run of the year to give the Reds a 4-1 lead.
But New York promptly equalized in the fifth round. With an out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit his second home run of the year. Ben Rortvedt and Torres followed with singles, and Judge promptly doubled into Rortvedt. That was it for Reds starter Luke Weaver. Alex Young took over, leaving Rizzo with a single. Torres equalized, but Judge was thrown out on the play at the plate.
The Yankees went without a hit in the last four innings of regular time before their bats fired again in the extras and secured the series win.