Sat Sep 14 02:15:40 UTC 2024: ## Judge Breaks Out of Slump with Grand Slam, Yankees Rally Past Red Sox

**New York, NY** – Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees slugger, ended a 16-game home run drought in dramatic fashion Friday night, hitting a game-winning grand slam in the seventh inning to propel the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The win moved the Yankees within three games of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.

Judge, who hadn’t gone deep since August 25th, came to bat with the bases loaded and the Yankees trailing 4-0. He then launched a 96 mph fastball from Red Sox reliever Cam Booser over the center field wall, erasing the deficit and giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

“I was just looking for a pitch to hit,” Judge said after the game. “I was able to get a good swing on that one, and it ended up going out.”

The grand slam broke a streak of 70 plate appearances without a home run for Judge, surpassing his previous longest drought of 69 in his rookie season. His performance also seemed to break him out of a September slump, where he was batting only .195 with a .570 OPS.

With 14 games left in the regular season, Judge still has a chance to reach 60 home runs for the season. His current pace puts him on track for 57. The Yankees will look to continue their winning ways as they push for a playoff spot, with Judge’s power a key factor in their success.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, remain five games out of the third AL Wild Card spot. They will look to rebound in the series against the Yankees on Saturday.

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