Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees were upset after a home run was ruled foul in a game against Tampa Bay.
Judge hit a deep changeup from Tampa Bay’s Eric Orze that soared down the left-field line, well above the foul pole at Steinbrenner Field. Umpires initially called the ball foul, and after a video review, the call was upheld. Judge and manager Aaron Boone believed the ball should have counted as his eighth home run of the season.
“Everyone’s kind of scratching their heads, but there’s nothing I can do about it. They missed it, and we just have to move on,” Judge said after the Yankees’ 4-0 victory.
Boone was ejected following a third strike call on Judge from plate umpire Adam Beck on the very next pitch.
“The audacity of the call standing is remarkable,” Boone remarked. “I understand it’s a high, towering ball, but after the replay, I guess they couldn’t find enough conclusive evidence, so we have to live with it.”
Judge began to argue with Beck after the called strike. Boone rushed out from the dugout and was immediately tossed, continuing his argument with third-base umpire Scott Barry over the foul ball call. This was Boone’s 40th career ejection, but his first of the season.
“It was a fair ball, but that’s why you have replay,” Judge said. “It’s frustrating, especially in a minor league park where the foul poles aren’t as high, but with replay, you have every angle. It was a terrible call.”
Judge, a two-time AL MVP, is hitting .390 with a major league-leading 25 RBIs.
Teammate Cody Bellinger was also amazed by the distance of the drive, which ended up in the trees beyond left field.
“It was probably the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit,” Bellinger said.
