BOSTON — Amid a historic season that could go down as the single greatest in MLB history, Aaron Judge somehow found a way to look human.
Through six at-bats against Judge this season, Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet had struck out the reigning American League MVP each time. Crochet jumped ahead 1-2 in the count in at-bat No. 7 against Judge.
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Judge gained count leverage, fouling off two fastballs and taking two heaters out of the zone to get to 3-2. On pitch No. 7 of the at-bat in the ninth inning Friday night, with the New York Yankees down 1-0, Judge turned on a four-seamer down and in, launching a 443-foot blast that cleared the Green Monster at Fenway Park.
It’s damn near impossible to have success seven times against Judge. Not when he has a 245 wRC+, which, if he maintains it, would be the highest in MLB history. It also didn’t matter that Crochet uncorked a 99.6 mph fastball, which now holds the title for the fastest pitch Judge has homered off in his career, according to Statcast.
“It’s not even up for debate that’s the best hitter in the league right now, and it’s going to take a little bit extra to get him, especially the fourth time in one game,” Crochet said. “That’s just the nature of the beast.”
The Judge bangs his gavel. #ALLRISE pic.twitter.com/Yyf6YlH7ie
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2025
The Yankees managed just five base runners off Crochet before Judge finally unloaded on a pitch, driving a towering shot that seemed bound to clank off the Citgo sign well beyond Fenway Park’s dimensions. That game-tying homer looked like it would be the most dramatic moment of the night, but we were just getting started. Would it really be a Yankees-Red Sox game without absurdity?
All hell broke loose in the 10th inning.
It started with Anthony Volpe, the automatic runner at second base, attempting to steal third base with no outs. Volpe was initially called safe by third-base umpire Brennan Miller. Third baseman Marcelo Mayer was dismayed. He threw his arms up immediately and signaled that the Red Sox needed to challenge the call. Replay showed it was a close call, and it did not look like there would be conclusive evidence to overturn the call on the field. But, MLB’s replay center did overturn the call, and Volpe was out.
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The decision to have Volpe steal there is questionable. Firstly, Jasson Domínguez, a left-handed hitter, is in the batter’s box. That gives Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez a clear angle to throw down to third base. Secondly, there are few reasons a visiting team would need to advance a runner to third base with no outs in extra innings. Thirdly, the Yankees have the best offense in baseball; it’s perfectly acceptable to believe one of the hitters will come through. The risk of stealing seems too great in that moment, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone was all-in on the decision.
“Oh, hell, yeah. You’re not?” Boone said. “You’ve seen Anthony steal third. The only reason he’s out is because he kind of gets caught on the slide where he doesn’t extend. Absolutely.”
After review, Carlos Narváez nabs Anthony Volpe with a perfect throw 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/LWhoHBpM2f
— MLB (@MLB) June 14, 2025
With one out, Domínguez struck out looking, bringing DJ LeMahieu to the plate with two outs and no one on base. LeMahieu ripped a ball down the right-field line that seemed fair but was called foul by first-base umpire Jeremie Rehak. The Yankees challenged the call, but replay ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn it. Boone went ballistic and charged out of the dugout. He took the Dubble Bubble gum out of his mouth and threw a fastball in the direction of home plate umpire John Tumpane, who immediately tossed the manager. Boone yelled a few obscenities and mocked Rehak making the call before heading into the clubhouse for the rest of the game.
“I want the courage to overturn the call,” Boone said. “A quarter of the ball is on the line. It takes a lot of — something — a lot of imagination to say that’s fair. Whatever. It’s over with. I’m not saying we score there. In the end, they outlasted us.”
When pressed further on the umpires needing “courage” to change calls, Boone said it might be a poor choice of words and that he was “heated.”
DJ LeMahieu hit a ball down the first base line in extra innings and it was ruled a foul ball even after replay review. Aaron Boone tossed his gum and was ejected. LeMahieu would also get ejected after his at bat. The Yankees lost this game in extra innings 👀 pic.twitter.com/R5o8PUwDQ3
— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) June 14, 2025
LeMahieu then grounded out to end the inning, and he, too, was ejected after saying a few words to Rehak. This was LeMahieu’s 1,652nd career game and first ejection. LeMahieu was “surprised” to get ejected because he didn’t curse or say any of the “magic” words to get tossed.
“I just said that was a brutal call,” LeMahieu said. “(Rehak) said, ‘What did you say?’ I said, ‘That was brutal.’ That was it. Obviously, it’s a high-intensity moment in the game and high pressure and emotions were running high.”
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Adding to the silliness, the Yankees sent only two batters to the plate in the 10th inning because Volpe was thrown out at third. They then needed to hold the Red Sox to no runs in the bottom of the inning, which is extremely challenging as the visiting team in extra innings. The Yankees intentionally walked Rafael Devers, brought in Cody Bellinger from the outfield to play first base and have a five-man infield with Mayer in the batter’s box. Tim Hill struck out Mayer, and it looked possible the Yankees were going to somehow get to an 11th inning. But Narváez, whom the Yankees traded to the Red Sox this past offseason for pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, drilled a ball off the Monster for a game-winning single as Boston prevailed 2-1.
The Yankees are 12-26 in extra innings road games since 2020. It’s the worst winning percentage in MLB over that span.
Hill could have walked Narváez to bring rookie phenom Roman Anthony, a left-handed hitter, to the plate. It’s a more favorable matchup for Hill, but the Yankees chose to go after the righty in Narváez. The Yankees did ponder walking him but decided against it.
“Some consideration there,” Boone said. “We talked about it before the inning a little bit, but then you’re bringing the walk into play off a guy that does have that kind of patience. Once we’re ahead in the count there, we’re going to take our shot.”
In the clubhouse after the game, Trent Grisham, who did not play in Friday’s game, was posted up in the back right corner eating an ice cream cone. So, not every Yankee went home with a poor taste in their mouth after dropping their third game to the Red Sox in the past week.
(Photo: David Butler II / Imagn Images)
