The Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Orioles with a 12-1 victory on Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Aaron Judge belted his 14th home run, backing Cam Schlittler and helping fuel a late barrage. The Yankees delivered a performance fitting for a tribute to John Sterling.
“Seeing that tribute hit home, because he loved the Yankees – he loved this team, he loved this franchise, he loved the fans,” Judge said.
Tributes to Sterling at Yankee Stadium
Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman laid bouquets across home plate before first pitch as both teams observed a moment of silence for Sterling, who passed away on Monday at 87.
After the final out, a recording of Sterling’s signature “Yankees win, theeee Yankees win!” call was played. Judge hopes to see that continue as a permanent stadium tradition.
“I think it’d be a nice little tip of the cap to John and what he meant to so much of this franchise and this fan base,” Judge said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone agreed, suggesting the call should precede the playing of Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” after each victory.
“I’d love it, yeah – right on into Frank,” Boone said.
Each Yankees player wore Sterling’s initials on the back of his cap in tribute, while organist Paul Cartier played ditties of Broadway show tunes throughout the night.
Judge’s Home Run and Schlittler’s Performance
Judge delivered a moment Sterling would have savored, clobbering a full-count Shane Baz offering into the right-field bullpen.
On the YES Network broadcast, Kay paid homage to his former radio partner, borrowing a trademark Sterling call.
“It is high, it is far, it is gone!” Kay said, continuing: “Aaron Judge, a Judgian blast! Here comes the Judge!”
The homer was Judge’s sixth of the year and 91st of his career in the first inning – third most in Yankees history, behind only Babe Ruth (126) and Mickey Mantle (103). Judge has hit 11 homers in his past 21 games (since April 12), quieting any concerns about a slow start.
“It’s just repetition,” Judge said. “That’s the same thing I’ve been working on since February. Now you get 115, 120 plate appearances under your belt and things kind of start clicking. I’ve just got to keep that rolling.”
Schlittler offered an amped outing, clocked with the six fastest pitches of his Major League career – all at 100.9 mph or above, topping out at 101.3 mph.
Though it wasn’t Schlittler’s sharpest effort, he limited Baltimore to one run on seven hits and three walks, including a bases-loaded walk to Colton Cowser that ended his evening in the sixth.
“I think he discovered something delivery-wise that got him a little more power,” Boone said. “He was having a little