The New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays soundly in Florida on Sunday, April 20, but star Aaron Judge and manager Aaron Boone still left the ballpark with a foul taste in their mouths -- pun intended.
New York led by a score of 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning when Judge come up to bat. He hit what appeared to be a towering home run to left field, though the third base umpire ruled the ball foul. A review was ordered, but the call ultimately stood.
Reporters asked Judge about the call during the postgame interview.
"It was a fair ball. That's why we got replay," Judge said. "It's not on the umpire. It's tough in a situation like this where, at a minor league park, the foul poles aren't as high. That's why you have replay. They have every angle. That's a fair ball."
The Rays' home stadium is Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. However, that facility's roof was damaged by Hurricane Milton and isn't currently safe for use. Thus, Tampa is playing its home games at Steinbrenner Field, the dimensions of which undeniably contributed to the home run controversy on Sunday.
Judge struck out on the first pitch following the review, at which point Boone made his way onto the field to argue with both the home plate umpire and the third base umpire. He was ultimately ejected.
"The audacity of the call standing is remarkable," Boone told reporters during the postgame. "I get it's high, towering. But then it goes to replay, and I guess they couldn't find enough conclusive [evidence]."
Had the hit been ruled a fair ball, Judge's total on the season would be eight home runs. As it stands now, he has seven home runs through 22 games. He finished the day with one hit and two strikeouts in four at-bats, and the Yankees went on to win by a score of 4-0.
