Judge ties home run chase mark

Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 home runs in a Major League Baseball season, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run drive for the New York Yankees in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday.

The 30-year-old slugger drove a belthigh sinker with a full-count from lefthander Tim Mayza over the left-field fence.

Judge watched the ball clank off the front of the stands, just below two fans who reached over a railing and tried for a catch. He pumped an arm just before reaching first and exchanged a slap with coach Travis Chapman.

Judge’s mother and Roger Maris Jr rose and hugged from front-row seats. He appeared to point toward them after rounding second base, then was congratulated by the entire Yankees team, who gave him hugs after he crossed the plate.

Judge moved past the 60 home runs Babe Ruth hit in 1927, which had stood as the major league mark until Maris broke it in 1961. All three stars reached those huge numbers playing for the Yankees.

Barry Bonds holds the big league record of 73 for the San Francisco Giants in 2001.

The home run came in the fourth plate appearance of the night for Judge, ending a streak of 34 plate appearances without a home run. The Yankees won 8-3.