ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Had the stunning catch right fielder Aaron Judge made Sunday been in October rather than May, Willie Mays may have had a challenger to the premier postseason catch ever.
While Joe Girardi and Yankee players raved about Judge’s diving catch on the warning track in the sixth inning that saved a 3-2 Yankees win in front of 20,873 at Tropicana Field, Judge low-keyed the ability to not only track Evan Longoria’s drive off Chad Green, but to keep his eyes on the ball as it flickered in and out of the lights and white ceiling, then manage to hold on as his 6-foot-7, 280-pound frame punished the warning track.
“I just took a couple of steps and I got there. I wasn’t doing it on offense so I had to do something on defense to help the team,’’ said Judge, who turned the amazing grab into a double play when Corey Dickerson was nearing third as the ball was vanishing into Judge’s glove. “I just read it good off the bat and tried my best to get there. When I looked up right before I caught it, I saw I might have a chance and I just dove. It kind of came in and out of the lights and the roof, but I kept my eye on it the whole time and tried to see it the whole way.’’
CC Sabathia, who copped the win with five innings of four-hit pitching and two runs (one earned) called Judge’s catch, “One of the biggest plays so far for us this year.’’
Still, there was a one-run lead to protect across the final three innings and Green, Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances, with a four-out save, did it to stop a three-game losing streak.
The victory, which was also fueled by Brett Gardner’s two-run homer in a three-run second inning off Chris Archer, raised the Yankees’ record to 26-16 and moved them one-half game ahead of the Orioles for first place in the AL East.
Didi Gregorius went 4-for-4, a career high, and drove in a run.
While Judge bemoaned striking out four times, he had company as Matt Holliday matched Judge. Rays pitchers fanned 17, which tied the Yankees record for most whiffs in a nine-inning game.
Mays’ back-to-the-infield catch of Vic Wertz’s fly ball to deep center in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against the Indians at the Polo Grounds remains the gold standard for postseason grabs, but it has nothing on what Judge turned in Sunday.
“Not much you can do but tip your cap,” Longoria said. “It was a great play and it ended up saving the game for them. We will be watching it on SportsCenter for a while.”
Because Judge entered Sunday’s action leading the AL in home runs (15), runs scored (35), was second in slugging percentage (.728), sixth in RBIs (30) and sixth in batting average (.331) the first two months have been highlighted by the bat, which has made him the early favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year.
Yet scouting reports have warned players about an above-average and accurate arm from right field. Now, add the ability to go very far to make highlight-reel catches with a soft glove.
“His defense is very good. I think as big as he is we all talk about the power,’’ Girardi said. “We forget about the little things he does very well. Defense is not a little thing, but getting a jump on the ball, that’s a big thing. Sometimes it is underestimated how important that is. He just does a lot of things right.’’
After seeing the replay on a clubhouse TV, Judge was asked to grade it.
“Good catch,’’ the humble Judge said of play the Yankees will talk about for quite a while.