Aaron Judge shares true feeling about Fernando Cruz after Yankees sweep Royals

In a game defined by timely hits, lockdown relief, and a flash of defensive brilliance, the New York Yankees edged the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge and Fernando Cruz stole the spotlight — and then some.

Judge, who’s currently producing numbers straight out of a video game, blasted a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference. He reached base four times and went 3-for-3 with a walk, lifting his MLB-best batting average to .409 and OPS to a jaw-dropping 1.322. It was his first home run since April 4.

“That’s why we got him,” Judge said postgame of Cruz, who delivered a gutsy two-inning save in relief. “He came in and shut the door.”

Cruz, whose seventh and eighth innings were filled with tension, earned his first career save and did so while helping preserve a taxed bullpen. “He’s a superhuman,” Cruz said about Judge. “You just expect him to come through. It’s what he does.”

With a runner on second in the ninth and the game hanging in the balance, Cody Bellinger made a game-saving, full-extension catch in right field on MJ Melendez’s slicing liner to end it — a fitting exclamation point for a game full of grit and clutch execution.

“There’s a reason why he’s got gold on his glove,” Judge said of Bellinger’s game-ending grab. “Very few people make that catch, especially in a big moment like that.”

Yankees complete the sweep of the Royals

Aaron Judge shares true feeling about Fernando Cruz after Yankees sweep Royals
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Related New York Yankees NewsArticle continues below

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was all smiles after the game, especially about Judge’s laser-focused night at the plate. “Tonight was the most locked-in I’ve felt he was at-bat wise — he was on everything.”

The Yankees trailed early after Salvador Perez drove in a run in the first off Clarke Schmidt, who was making his season debut. But Schmidt, despite some early rust, found a rhythm and retired 11 straight at one point. He allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings before turning it over to the bullpen.

The Yankees’ offense answered in the third inning behind Anthony Volpe’s two-run double — a sigh of relief for the shortstop, who entered the night in a 2-for-23 slump. Bellinger, himself mired in a 5-for-43 skid, knocked in a run with an RBI double down the line in the fourth.

Kansas City clawed back to tie it 3-3 in the fifth, but once again, Judge stepped up. He led off the seventh by demolishing a John Schreiber sinker into the right-center bullpen for his seventh homer of the year. The Yankees wouldn’t trail again.

Mark Leiter Jr. got four crucial outs in relief before handing it off to Cruz, who shut things down with poise and power.

The Yankees improved to 11-7 and wrapped up a 4-2 homestand with momentum in tow as they head to Tampa. With Judge swinging the hottest bat in baseball, the bullpen delivering under pressure, and the defense flashing Gold Glove moments, the Bronx Bombers are beginning to look dangerous.

Related Posts

🚨 BREAKING: “THIS ISN’T ABOUT BASEBALL” — Mookie Betts MOVES LOS ANGELES WITH GENEROUS DONATION OF 5,000 MEALS AND 3,000 SCHOOL SUPPLIES 🚨 Mookie Betts takes his community impact to the next level, providing 5,000 free meals and 3,000 school supplies to underprivileged students in L.A., reaffirming his dedication to making a difference beyond the diamond.

Loѕ аngeleѕ – іn а cіty аccuѕtomed to Hollywood lіghtѕ, multі-mіllіon dollаr contrаctѕ, аnd dаzzlіng nіghtѕ аt Dodger ѕtаdіum, Mookіe Bettѕ creаted а moment of ѕomethіng very…

🚨 “I TURNED DOWN $300 MILLION BECAUSE THE RED SOX MADE MORE SENSE” — ALEX BREGMAN SHOCKS THE LEAGUE WITH LOYALTY STATEMENT 🚨 Alex Bregmаn ѕtunѕ the bаѕebаll world by rejectіng а mаѕѕіve $300 mіllіon offer to ѕtаy wіth the Red Sox, vowіng to helр “rebuіld the Boѕton dynаѕty.”

“і turned down $300 mіllіon becаuѕe the Red ѕox mаde more ѕenѕe.” –аlex Bregmаn ѕhocked the leаgue wіth hіѕ loyаlty ѕtаtement. Bregmаn reveаled thаt he receіved а…

🚨 RED SOX PREDICTED TO SIGN FORMER $150 MILLION FUTURE HALL OF FAME SLUGGER TO REPLACE J.D. MARTINEZ 🚨 The Red Sox аre reрortedly eyeіng а future Hаll of Fаme ѕlugger, once worth $150 mіllіon, to fіll the gар left by J.D. Mаrtіnez. Could thіѕ be the gаme-chаngіng move Boѕton needѕ?

The Boѕton Red ѕox аррeаr рoіѕed for а mаjor offѕeаѕon ѕhаke‑uр аѕ the frаnchіѕe lookѕ to bolѕter іtѕ lіneuр аnd chаѕe іtѕ fіrѕt World ѕerіeѕ tіtle ѕіnce 2018. Deѕріte…

🚨 BREAKING: “I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE” – DAVE ROBERTS SIGNS BLOCKBUSTER $50 MILLION CONTRACT WITH DODGERS 🚨 In а hіѕtorіc move, Coаch Dаve Robertѕ ѕіgnѕ the lаrgeѕt coаchіng contrаct іn MLB hіѕtory—$50 mіllіon for fіve yeаrѕ. Robertѕ commіtѕ to contіnuіng hіѕ legаcy of іnѕріrаtіon аnd chаmріonѕhір vіctorіeѕ wіth the Dodgerѕ.

іn а decіѕіon thаt ѕhook Dodger ѕtаdіum аnd ѕent the bаѕebаll world іnto а frenzy, the Loѕ аngeleѕ Dodgerѕ offіcіаlly extended the contrаct of legendаry heаd coаch…

💥 BREAKING NEWS: Former Met Jerry Blevins Sounds Off With a Bold Message to the Team: “Let Jonah Tong Pitch!” ⚡ The frustration is real — and Blevins doesn’t hold back. What started as a simple plea has ignited a firestorm among Mets fans, urging the team to unlock the potential of their young star. With his flashes of brilliance and wasted opportunities, the call is clear: Is it time to take the training wheels off and see what Jonah Tong can truly do? As pressure mounts and the team searches for direction, this could be the turning point the Mets desperately need…ll 👇👇👇

🚨 JONAH TONG’S ROOKIE STRUGGLES: SHOULD THE METS ALTER HIS PITCHING REPERTOIRE? 👇 The New York Mets are dealing with a growing debate over the development of…

🚨BREAKING: Atlanta Braves legend Andruw Jones issues statement after Hall of Fame decision! The iconic outfielder reacts to the results, reflecting on his career and the honor of being considered. What does Jones’ message mean for his legacy, and how does he feel about the Hall of Fame snub? 👇👇👇

Andruw Jones Confirms Hall of Fame Induction with Braves Cap: A Legacy Cemented in Atlanta The journey to the Baseball Hall of Fame is filled with moments…