The Yankees went into their last home series of 2023. In reality, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ record on the season isn’t that much stronger than the Yankees, but they are in a much weaker division – and, therefore, whilst the Yankees will finish fourth or fifth, Arizona will finish second or third.

Today, the Yankees sent Luke Weaver to the mound, who is trying to rebuild his career, whilst Brandon Pfaadt (pronounced “Fought”) is trying first time around to establish a Major League career.

Weaver started the season at Cincinnati, and then when the Reds released him, he was signed by Seattle. The Mariners placed him on waivers, and the Yankees claimed a couple of days later. His career might seem to be on the garbage heap, if he can’t turn things around soon. His first game for the Yankees came in Pittsburgh where he pitched four innings for 3 runs. Tonight, he had a second opportunity to turn it all around and rebuild his career.

Pfaardt went into this game with a 2-8 record on the season, His Earned Run Average stood at 5.86.

It was not hard to predict that the outcome of the game depended primarily on the two teams’ batting performance on the night.

In the end, one player was going to have far more say than anyone else in the outcome. And it wasn’t a pitcher.

Weaver blanked the Diamondback batters 1-2-3 in the top of the first. The Yankees didn’t score either, but Aaron Judge who is growing in confidence again quickly was unfortunate to be left stranded at third. He had hit a double to centrefield, and Gleyber Torres advanced him to third when he hit a returner to Pfaadt who threw to first base to take out Torres. A further ground out from Austin Wells meant that the game remained tied.

A single for Alek Thomas in the second was undone, when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit into a double play, giving the Yankees a second opportunity for first blood. However, Pfaadt struck out all three batters. Still 0-0.

A single for Geraldo Perdomo was the only opportunity for Arizona in the third. And the game was about to be blown wide open.

The bottom half of the inning started with a single from Oswaldo Cabrera, the leftfielder, who is obviously keen to prove he is worthy of a utility role in 2024. Pfaadt made an error on a fielder’s choice which followed. The intention was to allow third baseman to arrive safely at first, whilst was Cabrera was put out at second. Pfaadt’s error meant that both were safe.

Estevan Florial struck out for the first out. The two runners were still on the first and second bases.

And then Judge, who had already hit a double in the game, hit the ball straight over the centrefield wall, and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead as Judge pledged his home run to the heavens.

Torres and Wells both struck out and the Yankees made no further advance in the scoring.

The only hit in the fourth was an Anthony Volpe double. There was no further scoring to this point.

Volpe in turn made a fielding error in the top of the fifth, but the Diamondbacks never looked likely to build on this.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Yankees widened the gap in the game even further. Oswald Peraza hit a double. Centrefielder, Estevan Florial gathered his second double in consecutive games and scored Peraza from second. And then Judge hit his 34th home of the season, and his second of the night – 6 to 0.

Later, with one out, Austin Wells hit a single. He moved up to second on an error by Thomas, but Giancarlo Stanton and Jake Bauers both failed to bring him to home plate.

In the top of the 6th, there were three important things to note. A single to rightfield for Ketel Marte. A pitching substitution which brought on Jhony Brito for the Yankees. A great fielding play from Peraza which ended the top part of the inning with the Diamondbacks still scoreless.

It was until the bottom half of the seventh, that the Yankees put more players on base. Florial gathered yet another double – three in two games. And then Judge hit yet another homer – three on one night. Three in a game for the second time this season.

The seventh produced no further runs. Judge is astonishing!!!

With the Yankees seven-zero up, they managed to load up the bases in the bottom of the 8th. Stanton singled. Joe Mantiply (briefly a Yankee in the past) came on, and gave up a walk to Volpe and a single to Peraza. However, there were no further runs registered. Florial who had a great night to this point, hit a fly out to rightfielder Jake McCarthy to close out the inning.

Brito, who had been having a great outing, gave up his first hit and first run when first baseman, Christian Walker clattered a homer to leftfield.

But Brito closed out the game without any further problems. Three and two-third innings with only that one problem. Great night for him too. And Weaver had bounced back and took the win.

There is no question though who was the true star over all others. Aaron Judge, four hits including those three roundtrippers. And spotless work in the field.

Imagine how many home runs he might have hit this year if it wasn’t for that toe injury!