Aaron Judge's home run streak reaches 16 games, a new career high

NEW YORK – Aaron Judge’s blackout set a personal record.

Judge's home run-free streak reached a career high of 16 games and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 in 10 innings.

Judge, who leads the major leagues with 51 home runs and 126 RBIs, hit 1 for 4 with a single and has a .207 batting average (12 for 58) with 21 strikeouts since Aug. 26, a day after hitting two home runs against Colorado. He went 15 games without a home run from Aug. 17 to Sept. 2, 2017.

“Home runs still come in droves even for guys like him and there's going to be those periods,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I guess it's amazing that he avoided them. But I mean, that's just a testament to how good a hitter he is and how much power he has, but I thought he had good at-bats tonight and almost hit one.”

Judge hit a drive in the first inning that was caught by Wilyer Abreu in front of the right outfield boundary and a 105 mph grounder that third baseman Rafael Devers caught with a spinning stop and turned into an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning.

Judge hit nine home runs in ten games before the home run drought began.

“He gets base hits. He gets on base. He creates traffic,” said pitcher Nestor Cortes. “The home runs haven't been there yet, but I know they're coming. He's a big boy.”

Cortes thought back to Judge's slow start. The Yankees captain had a .209 batting average and six home runs until May 4, when he was ejected by Ryan Blakney for cursing at the umpire after a third strike in the seventh inning against Detroit.

“You saw what happened in April,” Cortes told reporters. “He had a little trouble and then he started to improve. He'll probably have to be kicked out again.”