Safe to say, the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry is as fiery as ever! And this was on full display during their previous showdown. When Yankees captain Aaron Judge nearly had a close encounter with a pitch, thrown by Sox’s ace pitcher Baryan Bello, he could have gotten hurt. But at the same time, rivals like these really keep sports exciting, don’t they? Now, with the Red Sox holding down third place and the Yankees comfortably sitting at the top, the stakes are sky-high.

What does Aaron Judge have to say about his close encounter with the pitch?

The 32-year-old was seen acknowledging the move as just part of baseball, it happens brushing off any speculation that it was intentional. But wait, he also cheekily added, “So I think the biggest thing is, just don’t miss when you do it”. Was that a sly taunt? Perhaps; while Jeter took it all in stride, he hinted that the real culprit behind the drama was something else. Yup, it’s the classic, simmering rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox. As Aaron Judge mentioned to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, “I know they’re upset. I think three of their guys got hit. I think they’re just protecting their players.” Is it possible that all this drama was aimed at shielding their own team?

Well, maybe, but one thing’s for sure: it saved the Red Sox from giving up a home run to the game’s top slugger in that crucial at-bat. Although they lost the game and the series, it was worth the try, as the Yankees ace himself said, “That’s the way this game kind of gets policed.” Whatever the reason, Saturday’s game delivered a much-needed dose of rivalry excitement for baseball fans. But could there be more to that pitch than just protecting their own team; and could Judge’s stellar performance have played a role? Despite all the Red Sox’s efforts, if we boil it down, Judge only enhanced his impressive stats, now standing at 53 home runs and 132 RBIs. So, it’s worth considering, isn’t it?

Aaron’s electric gameplay against the Sox

It’s no secret that Judge has dominated the 2024 season. While I won’t bog you down with stats, you probably remember that he recently hit the impressive milestone of 50 home runs in three seasons. With his remarkable performance, it’s only natural that he’d draw extra attention from rivals. According to Stat Muse, he’s racked up 16 hits, five home runs, and 15 RBIs with a .327 batting average against the Red Sox in 2024. So it could be a possibility that this led to the fiery pitch by Baryan Bello?

Well, whether this was a factor in him nearly being hit is up for interpretation. Judge on the other hand was also seen having fun in the rivalry. It doesn’t always have to be fierce. As he was carrying his bat to first base with him after hitting a home run on Sunday, he said, “It was a big homer, we’re playing the Red Sox, it’s a big rival, big game,  Just having some fun with it.” So, whether through game, or rivalry, both teams were seen giving their 100 percent, but in the end, the scoreboard came in favor of the New York Yankees!

The Bronx clinched three out of four games in their final series against Boston this season. And one thing to note is Judge’s demeanor after the close call might be because he dodged injury, but had things gone differently. His streak—and the Yankees’ lead—could have been in jeopardy. Remember, the Yankees have more rivals to contend with, with the Red Sox in third and the Orioles hot on their heels in second.

What do you think might have been Judge’s and the Yankees’ reaction if he had actually been hit? Drop your thoughts in the comments!