Jazz Chisholm wasn’t the only Yankee to go deep twice in Monday’s win over the Phillies, as Aaron Judge crushed two no-doubt moonshots in the series-opening victory.
Judge’s home runs were his 38th and 39th of the season, as he sits with 99 RBI before the trade deadline, and is on pace to finish just shy of 60 home runs for the year.
“He’s the best baseball player I’ve ever seen. Straight up,” Keith said. “I know Bonds was dope and Ken Griffey Jr. Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter…I’m talking about from the first time he went back-to-back and a belly-to-belly with Tyler Austin, this guy has continued to be a problem.
“‘He hit 52 home runs his rookie year, he’ll never do it again.’ OK, he doesn’t have to. He hit 62.”
Judge went off in the Yankees’ series win at Fenway Park over the weekend, and his tear continued on Monday, which Keith says will continue as long as the bats around him contribute as well.
“Maybe if he has had more protection in the lineup and they had to pitch to him, maybe he wouldn’t slump…now that the lineup is stacked, they can’t just put Judge on,” Keith said. “Guys are deciding to face him, and that’s usually a bad decision. If the pitch is in the zone, it’s getting rocked.”