June 12, 2017

Aaron Judge hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 8th inning which proved to be the decisive blow, as the Yankees defeated the Angels 5-3 on Monday night at the Big A.

Judge’s homer came off of Bud Norris with Aaron Hicks aboard, and traveled 438 feet over the right center field wall.  It was his major league-leading 22nd homer of the season.  Judge, who grew up in Linden, Calif. — nearly 400 miles north of Anaheim — was met with “M-V-P” chants fans in the stands after rounding the bases.

The Angels trailed 3-1 after a pair of RBI singles by Didi Gregorious in the 3rd and 5th, and a run scoring single from Chase Headley in the 7th.

Kole Calhoun hit a solo home run for the Halos in the 1st to give them a 1-0 lead.  They rallied in the 7th inning behind an RBI single from Danny Espinosa and an RBI double from Cameron Maybin to tie the game at 3-3.

Jose Alvarez (0-3) took the loss after giving up a one-out double to Hicks before Juge’s two-run homer.

Alex Meyer started for the Angels, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, while lasting on 4 2/3 innings.  He made 93 pitches.

Tyler Clippard (1-3) got credit for the win.  Dellin Betances struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save, his first since May 27.

Masahiro Tanaka  went 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run (three total) on four hits.

The Angels and Yankees will go at it again tomorrow night at the Big A.  J.C. Ramirez (6-4, 6.55 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos.  He’ll be opposed by C.C. Sabathia  (7-2, 3.66 ERA).