海角社区官网Blue Jays manager John Schneider, center, stands on the mound after pulling Max Scherzer during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
海角社区官网Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer winds up to throw during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge shows the ball after making a diving catch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the 海角社区官网Blue Jays, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge returns to the dugout between innings during a baseball game against the 海角社区官网Blue Jays, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Scherzer tips change-up against Yankees, with Judge signalling Rice ahead of three-run homer
NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Aaron Judge helped the New York Yankees with his arms even before saving a run with his glove, signalling Max Scherzer’s pitch tipping ahead of Ben Rice’s three-run homer in Sunday’s 4-3 win over the 海角社区官网Blue Jays.
海角社区官网Blue Jays manager John Schneider, center, stands on the mound after pulling Max Scherzer during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Aaron Judge helped the New York Yankees with his arms even before saving a run with his glove, signalling Max Scherzer’s pitch tipping ahead of Ben Rice’s three-run homer in Sunday’s 4-3 win over the 海角社区官网Blue Jays.
Standing off second base, Judge spread his arms ahead of a pair of Scherzer change-ups in the first inning after getting a signal from Cody Bellinger, the runner at first. Rice prolonged his at-bat with a long foul ball on the full-count pitch, then homered off a fastball on the 10th pitch of the at-bat for a 3-0 lead.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e good at it,鈥 海角社区官网manager John Schneider said. 鈥淢ax has got to be a little bit better. It was obvious in the change-ups, Rice just missed one, foul homer, and it鈥檚 fair game.”
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Playing just his second game in right field since hurting his throwing arm in late July, Judge made a diving catch on George Springer鈥檚 106.4 miles per hour sinking liner to strand a runner at second base in the fourth. New York won for the 11th time in 14 games and closed within two games of AL East-leading Toronto.
Scherzer threw his change-up 17 times over 4 1/3 innings and admitted opponents had told him they can figure out from first base when he throws the pitch.
鈥淚 thought I had addressed it. I thought I had made the proper adjustment to get my glove in front of my face but clearly I hadn鈥檛,鈥 Scherzer said.
Scherzer threw three change-ups to Rice. Judge didn’t signal on the first, with an 0-2 count, but spread his arms before Rice took a change-up on the sixth of the at-bat to work the count full.
Judge spread his arm again before Scherzer followed with another change-up, which Rice fouled into the last row of the right-field second deck.
First baseman Ty France went to the mound to alert Scherzer. Rice fouled off a fastball and a curve, then drove a fastball 380 feet into the right-centre seats.
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鈥淢ajor League Baseball knows the Yankees are good when they got something. I鈥檓 not the only one that鈥檚 going to say it,” Schneider explained. “Maybe I鈥檓 the only one that鈥檚 going to say it publicly, but we got to do a better job of making sure we鈥檙e not giving anything away. So at the end of the day you got to be tight, you got to make pitches.鈥
Bellinger acknowledged he had signalled Judge to alert Rice.
鈥淭hat is correct. That is what was happening,鈥 Bellinger said.
On July 10, Bellinger waved his arms during an at-bat to Austin Wells to indicate Seattle closer Andr茅s Mu帽oz was throwing a slider. After the Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit on Judge鈥檚 10th-inning sacrifice fly, catcher Cal Raleigh admitted what occurred.
Judge returned to right field on Friday night for the first time since July 25, three days after he hurt the flexor tendon in his right elbow during a throw at Toronto. Judge made a soft 67.9 miles per hour toss to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Nathan Luke’s two-run single to shallow right in the first inning of the series opener.
Judge was a designated hitter on Saturday and back in right for the series finale. Springer鈥檚 liner was among six balls hit to Judge, who made a 70.7 miles per hour throw to second on Ernie Clement鈥檚 double and did not attempt to throw home on Lukes鈥 sacrifice fly in a two-run second.
Springer’s liner appeared set to fall between Judge and the right-field line before the catch by the 6-foot-7 outfielder.
鈥淚t looked like he got a good break on it and just made a really quality play, obviously in a big spot there,鈥 manager Aaron Boone said.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 a great catch,” said Bellinger, whose 95.3 miles per hour throw from right field caught Bo Bichette at the plate on Saturday. “The ball鈥檚 hit really hard. It鈥檚 a tough read. You got a good jump on it, and that was a great catch and a big part of the game.鈥
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