Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra, joining the ranks of Yankees legends and entering the top five in franchise home runs

For many years, the Yankees' home run record book has been like a roll call of legends: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra.

Now, this elite club welcomes a contemporary member. Aaron Judge hit his 358th career home run in an away game, where the Yankees lost 2-3, tying Berra for fifth place in franchise history.

“The way Yogi played, what he meant to the Yankees uniform—you know how much being a Yankee meant to him,” Judge said. “I feel the same way. I’m honored to wear this jersey. So to be on this list is really special.”

Former Yankee Mike Tauchman made a leaping catch in the third inning, robbing Giancarlo Stanton of what would have been a two-run homer, while Tim Hill gave up a walk-off home run to Lenyn Sosa in the eighth inning, ending the Yankees’ seven-game winning streak.

These wins came against two bottom-ranked teams—the Nationals and White Sox—and were convincing. Over the last eight games, the Yankees outscored opponents 60-22, with their starting pitchers posting a 1.57 ERA (8 earned runs over 46 innings).

Can they replicate this performance against stronger opponents? They will have the chance to prove it starting Wednesday in Houston against the Astros, kicking off a tough 12-game stretch against playoff contenders—after facing the Astros (75-62) in three games, they’ll meet the Blue Jays (79-58), Tigers (80-58), and Red Sox (76-62).

“The games are about to heat up,” Judge said. “We want to face the best teams, especially as we approach the final push toward the playoffs. That’s what matters most—to see what we’re made of.”

Several Yankees players boarded a charter flight to Texas wearing cowboy boots and Stetson hats for a themed trip, hoping to set the tone for a defining series. Getting Judge back to MVP form would definitely help.

For the captain, August was a quiet month; after missing time due to a right flexor strain, his role was limited to designated hitter as he tried to regain his rhythm. But he finished strong with home runs in back-to-back games.

Judge's powerful blast off White Sox lefty Martín Pérez in the first inning marked his 43rd home run of the season. He narrowly missed another homer in the third inning when the ball hit the top of the outfield wall, resulting in a double, and then added a single in the fifth inning—just one triple shy of a cycle.

“He’s definitely close to finding his groove. He’ll get there,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’ll figure out his approach and get really hot at some point.”

Luis Gil pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 2 runs, striking out 7, and walking 2, while giving up 4 scattered hits. Curtis Mead and Will Robertson hit back-to-back doubles in the second inning, and Colson Montgomery launched a game-tying home run in the sixth.

As he did in his previous start against the Nationals, Gil sacrificed velocity early to improve control, with lower readings on his fastball and slider. This was a deliberate choice; later in the game, he ramped up his speed and struck out 5 batters over a stretch of retiring 10 consecutive hitters.

“One thing we’ve been working on is getting ahead in the count and securing that first strike,” Gil said through translator Marlon Abreu. “I think that helped me a lot.”

Before the season ends, Judge is expected to climb even higher on the franchise leaderboard. Joe DiMaggio sits next with 361 home runs, while Ruth (659), Mantle (536), and Gehrig (493) hold the top three spots.

“He belongs in this group,” Boone said. “When he walked through the dugout, I called out, ‘Yogi!’ His career so far has earned him a place among these rare legendary names. He’s the best player our generation has seen.”

Drafted by the Yankees in the first round, 32nd overall, in 2013, Judge said he didn’t have much chance to interact with Berra, but he’s heard plenty about him from others.

“He was a special person,” Judge said. “Many veterans speak highly of him, saying some of their favorite memories are chatting with him during spring training just to hear his stories. They say he always had a smile on his face.”

Derek Jeter often recalls how Berra greeted him after the Yankees won the 2009 World Series—that was Jeter’s fifth ring. Berra, who had 10 rings, raised his hands to show Jeter he was only halfway there.

“Ten World Series rings. That’s truly remarkable,” Judge said. “That’s exactly the goal we’re all chasing.”