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SEATTLE — Aaron Judge was in danger of turning into a human for a day. 

As he walked to the plate in the eighth inning, the Yankees star was in the midst of a measly 1-for-3 effort with two strikeouts, which was going to drop his average.

The Mariners had fed him a steady dose of sliders and offspeed during the series and he was frustrated with his lack of discipline on them — including chasing one well below the zone for a punch-out in his previous at-bat. 

And then he got a slider over the heart of the plate. And it ended like most do: beyond the field of play. 

Judge clobbered his 15th home run of the year 444 feet, breaking a tie game and lifting the Yankees to a comeback 3-2 win over the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Park. 

The reigning AL MVP smoked the pitch from right-hander Carlos Vargas at 117.7 mph off the bat, continuing his torrid start to the season and securing a third straight series victory before the Yankees (25-18) headed home for the Subway Series this weekend. 


  Aaron Judge of the Yankees reacts after his solo home run during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images Aaron Judge of the Yankees reacts after his solo home run during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images

  Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees reacts after the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees reacts after the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images

“You start to hone in on which ones not to swing at, which I swung at a lot in the other batter’s box,” Judge said with a grin, now batting .412 with a 1.279 OPS through 43 games. “It’s really just about being patient and getting back to what we need to focus on, what we need to do. Happy we were able to come away with the win there.” 

Aaron Boone called the homer “heavy” and “Big G-ish,” referring to Giancarlo Stanton. It marked the second hardest-hit home run in MLB this season, behind only Shohei Ohtani’s 117.9 mph shot. 

Judge’s teammates have come to expect it. 

“Every time he comes up, I think he’s going to hit a home run,” said Will Warren, who struck out a career-high nine over five innings of two-run ball. “It’s crazy, but he puts in the hard work every day, shows up the same guy every day and I think that’s why he gets the results he does.” 

Paul Goldschmidt had tied the game in the seventh inning, coming off the bench to drill a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch he saw from lefty reliever Gabe Speier — his first pinch-hit home run since 2011.

The veteran first baseman has absolutely mashed lefties this season, now batting 20-for-35 (.571) with four home runs against them. 


  Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) hits an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) hits an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“It’s just quality at-bats every day,” Boone said. “It’s elevating our hitting room and culture. He’s killed lefties, obviously. He’s just a real polished hitter that knows how to play the game.” 

Goldschmidt credited talks he had this spring with former teammates and coaches, including Matt Carpenter, about how to be ready to pinch hit.

With the Yankees having quality depth to their lineup, it means Goldschmidt is going to be on the bench occasionally, and he wanted to make sure he could contribute in that way too. 


  Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) hits a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Carlos Vargas (not pictured) during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) hits a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Carlos Vargas (not pictured) during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“Coming here, it’s a little bit of a different role,” Goldschmidt said. “I’ve just tried to embrace that and was excited for something new. … It’s fun to have those opportunities. If you’re pinch hitting or coming in on defense, it means we’re probably in a winning situation or a tie game and have a chance to help us win.” 

In the sixth inning, the Yankees got on the board with back-to-back two-out doubles from Anthony Volpe and Jasson Domínguez off Luis Castillo, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Castillo otherwise kept the Yankees in check before the Mariners (23-19) turned to their bullpen. 

The late offense took Warren off the hook after another solid start from the young right-hander.

He struck out five of the first six batters he faced and the only two runs he allowed came in the third inning after an error — a misplay by first baseman Ben Rice when he was late to cover the bag after initially going after the grounder between first and second — that was inexplicably later changed to a hit, making the two unearned runs earned. 

In relief of Warren, Tyler Matzek, Ian Hamilton and Fernando Cruz combined for three shutout innings before Luke Weaver — who threw 21 pitches across two innings Tuesday night — slammed the door shut in the ninth by striking out the side to make sure Judge’s go-ahead blast stood up. 

“He’s just doing so many amazing things,” Goldschmidt said. “They’re not making many mistakes to him. When they do, he makes them pay.”

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