Judge Returns as Yankees Beat Rockies 5-3

Aaron Judge is back in the Bronx lineup. Activated after a fractured right rib and 84 games missed, Judge made his first appearance since May 31 as the New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night, per Reuters Field Level Media.

The Yankees eased him in: Judge went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, played right field for six innings, then came out as the club protected the rib. New York still got the win and matched a season high by moving 20 games over .500 at 82-62.

McMahon and Schlittler carry the night

Ryan McMahon lined a tiebreaking double with one out in the fifth against his former team, scoring rookie George Lombard Jr. after a single. Cam Schlittler threw seven innings, allowed one run on three hits, struck out 10 without a walk, and won his third decision in four starts.

Luis Garcia Jr. plated Cody Bellinger in the first after Jake McCarthy was charged with two errors in left. Adael Amador tied it with a leadoff homer in the third for Colorado. Heliot Ramos replaced Judge in right after the sixth and launched a three-run homer in the eighth that cushioned the lead.

34th straight winning season, Judge easing back

Hunter Goodman's two-run homer off Tim Hill in the ninth (Goodman's 37th) made it interesting. David Bednar then struck out Mickey Moniak for his 32nd save. The win also clinched New York's 34th straight winning season. The Yankees have not finished under .500 since 1992.

Judge struck out swinging in the first, flew out near the warning track in the fourth, and took a called third strike on a full count in the sixth against Mark Manfredi. That quiet bat line is the point of the night: he was back in the box, not asked to save September alone on night one.

Gabriel Hughes (0-7) lasted five innings for Colorado and allowed two runs (one earned). The Rockies fell to 55-89 and dropped their fifth straight road game. New York keeps pushing toward October with its middle-of-the-order star finally available again.

For Yankees fans, the story is simple. Judge is activated. The rib night is managed. Schlittler and McMahon bought him a win while the lineup rebuilds around No. 99. Next starts will tell how deep his September run goes. Tuesday was the first step back under the Stadium lights.