NEW YORK _ He more than redeemed himself later, but Aaron Judge had a not-so-excellent adventure between first and second bases in the Yankees' 6-4 win over the Astros in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
Judge walked against Lance McCullers Jr. to lead off the fourth inning in a scoreless game. He remained at first as Didi Gregorius lined out to center field.
Judge did not remain at first as Gary Sanchez lofted a fly ball to short right-center. In fact, Judge made it all the way to second base and slightly past it as Astros right fielder Josh Reddick pursued the ball.
It started to become clear to everyone that Reddick was going to make the catch. Everyone but Judge, that is, who hesitated near second base before beginning a mad dash back to first.
Reddick nonchalantly threw a two-hopper to first. Judge slid in and was called out by first-base umpire Jerry Meals to end the inning.
Or so it seemed.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi challenged the call. Replays showed that Judge's foot got to the base first and blocked first baseman Yuli Gurriel's foot. After a review of 1:24, Judge was ruled safe.
But not for long.
Perhaps thanks to all the replay shenanigans, the Astros knew that Judge did not touch second base on his way back to first. They tried to initiate the appeal play at second by having McCullers throw to the bag. But the appeal play can happen only when the next batter is in the box and the pitcher steps on the rubber so that time is in.
So Greg Bird stepped in the box, McCullers stepped on the rubber ... and Judge started for second base again!
Apparently, the rookie knew he hadn't touched second and was going to be called out. So he tried to steal on the appeal play, which is totally legal and totally a good idea.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, McCullers whirled and threw to shortstop Carlos Correa, who applied the tag on the sliding Judge.
Judge was out. Again. And the inning ended. For real this time.
Judge later hit a homer leading off the seventh. He touched 'em all. And started one of the biggest comebacks in Yankees postseason history. It was Judge who drove in the tying run with a double off the left field wall in the eighth and Judge who scored the go-ahead run on Sanchez's two-run double in the inning.
So all rise ... and all is forgiven. And the ALCS is tied at two games apiece.
