Yankees’ Aaron Judge Slams Red Sox Rookie After Clubbing Home Run

The Evil Empire Strikes Back.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had some choice words for Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins following Sunday’s 11-7 loss to Boston.

On Saturday, Dobbins told Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, “If the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire.”

On Sunday, Dobbins had a chance to back up those strong words. And let’s just say it didn’t start well.

Judge clubbed a two-run homer off Dobbins in the bottom of the first inning, a 436-foot bomb to right-center to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead. ESPN reports the ball had an exit velocity of 108.6 mph and was the second-longest opposite field home run of Judge’s career.

After the game, Judge fessed up that Dobbins’ quote was running through his head.

“Well, once somebody tells you, yeah,” Judge said, according to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo.

Judge wasn’t the only Yankees star to take offense to Dobbins’ comments.

During an in-game interview with ESPN, third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said, “I love competitiveness. But to say that, being a rookie, is kind of crazy to me, to say that you’re going to rule out one out of 30 teams to be a professional athlete.”

Before Sunday’s game, Chisholm hinted that the Yankees were fired up by Dobbins’ bulletin-board material, posting a response on Instagram: “FREE SMOKE, SEE YA AT 7.”

Dobbins rebounded from his slow start and gave up three runs over five innings to pick up the win Sunday, improving to 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA.

After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone downplayed Dobbins’ quotes. “He’s young,” Boone said. “I don’t know, I don’t think it’s a dig at our players. It’s an interesting comment as a player to make that. I think it’s just a comment of his love of his team is all. A little funny.”

Judge, for his part, didn’t go quietly, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off right-handed reliever Robert Stock.

Manager Alex Cora then summoned ex-Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to finish off the win, allowing Boston to leave the Bronx after taking two of three games against the American League East frontrunners.