New York Yankees' Aaron Judge made history on Saturday by hitting his 34th home run before the All-Star break, setting a franchise record. This achievement surpassed Roger Maris' previous record of 33 home runs before the break in 1961. Maris went on to finish that season with a major league record of 61 home runs. Judge's remarkable feat in 2022 also matched his 33 home runs before the All-Star break and eventually led to him hitting 62, breaking the American League full-season mark previously held by Maris.
Judge's record-breaking home run came during the Yankees' 6-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, bringing the Yankees within percentage points of the Orioles atop the AL East division. Judge, when asked about his milestone, humbly redirected the focus to the team's success, stating, 'Hopefully those 34 homers came in a lot of wins. That's what it's all about.'
The Yankees, with a record of 58-39, have won the first two games of the series against the Orioles at Camden Yards, halting Baltimore's streak of 22 series against AL East opponents without a loss. The Orioles, with a record of 57-38, will aim to avoid a sweep in the upcoming game, with the victor taking the division lead into the All-Star break.
In the fifth inning of Saturday's game, Juan Soto and Judge hit back-to-back home runs to center field, extending the Yankees' lead. Soto's 426-foot homer was followed by Judge's towering 431-foot solo shot.
Judge's season had a rough start, with his batting average dipping below .200 in early May. However, he remained focused on the team's success, emphasizing the importance of winning games. Judge's impressive performance saw him hit 14 home runs in May and another 11 in June.
The major league record for home runs before the All-Star break stands at 39, set by Barry Bonds in 2001, who went on to establish the single-season record with 73 home runs that year.
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