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Dodgers might have woken up Aaron Judge after slump-busting HR for Yankees in Game 5

By Thomas Carannante |
Oct 29, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts with fans against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Oct 29, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts with fans against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images / Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees wasted no time harnessing the momentum from their Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in the bottom of the first inning on Wednesday night. The mischief began early.

After a 1-2-3 top half from Gerrit Cole, the Yankees immediately got to Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty. Juan Soto worked a walk and then the worst possible outcome for LA came to fruition: Aaron Judge may have just busted out of his month-long slump.

Judge, whose approach looked completely different with one swing of the bat, belted the first pitch he saw to right field for a two-run homer. An immediate 2-0 lead had Yankee Stadium absolutely erupting.

There's been a lot of disappointing talk about Judge's postseason tenure with the Yankees, but we've been reminded that a couple good games could erase all of the poor play and unfulfilled clutch moments.

This could be the beginning. And if so, the Dodgers will be in big, big trouble. Because they might've given confidence to the rest of the lineup after Tuesday night's barrage.

Yankees' Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm go back-to-back against Dodgers

Pandemonium. The Yankees have never had more of an edge than they do right now. They are playing fast and loose while the Dodgers' inefficient offensive showings could be catching up to haunt them.

Exactly four pitches later, Jazz Chisholm destroyed another offering from Flaherty to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. That's the fifth time in Yankees World Series history that a duo has gone back-to-back.

The vibes are alive. Yankee Stadium has been dying to blow the roof off the building pretty much since 2018, but they haven't had a premier opportunity to do so with all of the playoff disappointment and stress-filled, too-close-for-comfort victories.

But ever since Anthony Volpe's grand slam in the third inning in Game 4, there's been a drastic shift in ... just about everything. The Yankees exploded to win a blowout and are now out to a 4-0 lead after an Alex Verdugo RBI single in the second.

Don't let the Yankees get hot.

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