Aaron Judge hit a go-ahead single in the tenth inning for his fourth hit of the game, and the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Saturday after slashing Aaron Hicks for $27.6 million. in the gardener’s contract.
New York overcame a 4-1 deficit in a three-run fifth inning against Luke Weaver on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s home run, Judge’s RBI double off the left-field wall and Anthony Rizzo’s RBI single.
Judge also hit a run-scoring single off the left-field fence in the third as part of a 4–4 afternoon with three RBIs. He is hitting .378 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs and a 1.402 OPS in 11 games since he returned from the disabled list on May 9.
Greg Allen, reacquired by the Yankees on Friday night, led off the 10th as an automatic runner at second. He advanced on Gleyber Torres’ fly out and scored on Judge’s single off Ian Gibaut (3-1).
Anthony Rizzo followed with a two-run home run, his second in two nights and his 24th at Great American Ball Park.
Clay Holmes (2-2) allowed a walk in the scoreless ninth, and Ryan Weber pitched the tenth to give the Yankees seven pitcher saves, the most of any major league team.
After the final out, Yankees manager Aaron Boone exchanged a handshake with Reds big penalized Pete Rose, who watched the game from a front row seat.
New York (28-20) has won five of six and 10 of 13, improving to a season-high eight games over .500.
Hicks was designated for assignment to make room for Allen, acquired in a trade with Boston on Friday. Hicks, 33, was hitting .188 with one home run and five RBIs in 28 games this season. His seven-year, $70 million contract is guaranteed through 2025.
Luke Maile homered for the Reds (19-26), who have lost five of six.
The game drew 41,374 fans, Cincinnati’s second-largest home crowd and the team’s second-largest sellout this season. Many of them raucously cheered the Yankees.
Run-scoring singles by Jake Fraley in the first and Spencer Steer in the third and Luke Maile’s two-run homer in the fourth built a 4-1 lead against rookie Jhony Brito.