Aaron Judge records second 3-homer game of 2023 in Yankees win over Diamondbacks

Aaron Judge has accomplished all sorts of home run feats throughout his career, but he had never enjoyed a three-dinger day prior to this season.

On Friday, he logged his second of 2023 in a 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks. In doing so, Judge recorded the 38th three-homer game in Yankees history. But he became the first Bomber to ever have two in one season, according to the YES Network’s James Smyth.

The performance earned the captain a curtain call at Yankee Stadium.

Just another day for The Cap 👨‍⚖️#AllRise pic.twitter.com/SjFzNMx3re

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 23, 2023

Judge pulled off the first with a three-run blast in the third inning, a two-run liner in the fifth inning, and a solo shot in the seventh inning. The first two homers came off Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt, while Slade Cecconi surrendered the last one.

Judge now has 35 home runs this season after his jacks totaled 1,182 feet on Friday. He also doubled while playing right field in the victory.

The first three-homer game of Judge’s career came on Aug. 23 against the Nationals. That night, he hit two homers off MacKenzie Gore and another off Jose A. Ferrer.

Judge had suffered a bit of a drought prior to Friday, hitting just one longball in 17 games since Sept. 3. The reigning MVP was slashing .228/.413/.316 over 75 plate appearances during that stretch.

Judge is now hitting .267 with a 1.010 OPS and 70 RBI over 100 games this season. His power numbers would be even larger if not for two trips to the injured list. Judge missed time with a hip strain and a torn ligament in his right big toe this year.

The latter injury sidelined Judge for about two months, and he returned before his toe could fully heal.