Aaron Judge goes 0 for 3 with 2 Ks in return to Yankees after 99-day absence caused by broken rib

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge struck out twice and flied out as he returned to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night after a 99-day absence — a gap that matched his uniform number.

Recovered from a broken rib, Judge started in right field and went 0 for 3 as the No. 3 hitter in a series-opening 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies that drew a sellout crowd of 46,211.

Judge swung under a four-seam fastball from rookie right-hander Gabriel Hughes in the first inning and flied out to deep right-center in the fourth, then took a called third strike on a full-count pitch from rookie left-hander Mark Manfredi in the sixth.

All three at-bats started with 2-0 counts and ended on fastballs. Judge was replaced at the start of the seventh as planned by Heliot Ramos, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth.

When Judge took the field in the top of the first, he smiled broadly and repeatedly tapped the interlocking “NY” on his jersey.

“He won’t play the whole game today, even though he wants to,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday afternoon. “He’ll probably have one of the days this series off.”

A three-time AL MVP, Judge had missed 84 games since his last appearance on May 31. The 34-year-old captain tried to persuade Boone to activate him after center fielder Trent Grisham strained a hamstring on Friday night.

“He actually appeared in my door in San Diego after Grish got hurt: ‘Ready to go tomorrow,’” Boone recalled. “Didn’t want to do that because there were some final boxes we definitely wanted him to check.”

Judge took batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Monday’s off day and was activated from the 60-day injured list that night. Boone had spoken separately with Judge, and strength and conditioning coach Brett McCabe, followed by the athletic training staff, general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner.

“Hal just wanted to know where everyone was with it, where we stood,” Boone said.

Judge, who didn’t speak with reporters before the game, sprayed several homers to right, center and left during batting practice Tuesday. He is hitting .244 with 17 homers, 38 RBIs and an .895 OPS this season.

Judge initially was injured attempting to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during an unsuccessful try for a diving catch at Houston on April 26 and batted .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games before going on the injured list. He had just one homer in 18 games before the IL stint.

New York had been 36-23 after Judge last played on May 31 and went 45-39 in his absence. The Yankees hit .243 with 86 homers, a .770 OPS and an average of 5.17 runs in 59 games through May 31 but .227 with 107 homers, a .681 OPS and an average of 4.06 runs while Judge was sidelined. Their batting average during that stretch ranked 29th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of Seattle at .225.

“We hung in there,” Boone said. “We’ve had stretches where it’s been a real struggle for us offensively.”

Opposing pitchers were a little more aggressive against other Yankees batters during Judge’s absence, according to MLB Statcast. Ben Rice received 48.3% strikes, up from 46.7%, and Cody Bellinger 49.7%, an increase from 47.3%.

“There is an effect around him netting better opportunities and better at-bats for everyone,” Boone said. “We’re very left-handed and have been much of the year. So how many days a week are we getting a lefty in the fifth inning, in the seventh inning and the ninth inning and they’re matching up against us and they don’t have to roll through Aaron Judge that’s surrounding those lefties?”

New York entered 81-62, four games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay and two games in front of Boston (80-65) for the top AL wild card. The Yankees hold a potential tiebreaker over the Red Sox after winning the season series.

Judge hit a career-high .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games last year, winning his third MVP award and first batting title.

Cruz hopes to return this year

Relief pitcher Fernando Cruz, sidelined since Aug. 25 by a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, decided against Tommy John surgery after being examined by Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister and hopes to pitch again this season.

Cruz had a cortisone shot and plans to resume throwing this week.

“If it breaks, it breaks,” he said. “If you hear a pop or you hear something, it’s time to go to an operation.”

Weathers also plans to be back this season

Left-hander Ryan Weathers threw on flat ground up to 75 feet as he tries to return from a left forearm flexor strain that has kept him out of games since Aug. 22.

Weathers intends to throw again Wednesday and Thursday, take Friday off and perhaps pitch off a mound after that. He hopes to have a bullpen role in the postseason.

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