(Reuters) — Aaron Judge hit a game-ending two-run homer with no outs in the ninth inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 2-0 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
The Yankees stopped a three-game losing streak and won for the fifth time in 15 games following a 16-3 run. New York also beat Tampa Bay for the first time in five tries this season after allowing four runs in the eighth inning on Friday.
Following a walk to Trent Grisham, Max Schuemann came in to pinch run and Judge blasted the next pitch from Kevin Kelly (3-2) into the lower rows of the right field seats to win it.
He carried his bat to first base before starting the home run trot. After a celebration at the plate, Judge was doused by three teammates while conducting his interview with the YES Network.
It was Judge’s fourth career walk-off homer. His last game-ending homer before Sunday was off Kansas City’s Scott Barlow on July 28, 2022, to give the Yankees a 1-0 win.
It was Judge’s first homer since connecting in the first inning against Logan Henderson at Milwaukee on May 10.
Tim Hill (1-2) stranded two in the top of the ninth before Judge’s dramatic blast.
The Rays lost for only the fifth time in their past 27 games and had a five-game winning streak stopped when Judge connected for his 17th homer.
The Rays nearly went ahead in the eighth against Fernando Cruz, but the Yankees got a crucial defensive play from left fielder Cody Bellinger. With runners at first and second, Ryan Vilade hit a single to left and Bellinger made a strong throw to third base to get Junior Caminero before pinch runner Oliver Dunn could score.
Plate umpire Doug Eddings initially ruled Dunn scored after the throw to third but the call was changed. The Rays challenged the out call at third, but following a brief review the call was confirmed via replay.
New York’s Ryan Weathers allowed four hits in seven innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked three.
Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen allowed five hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked one.
