MLB Video: Aaron Judge slams huge 1st-Inning home run in World Series Game 5 vs. Dodgers

Aaron Judge’s first home run of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers finally arrived, launching in the first inning to start Game 5 strong—a must-win for the New York Yankees if they hope to avoid watching their rivals celebrate in the Bronx.

Commentators described it as the moment the “sleeping giant” awoke, with Judge’s home run bringing in the first two runs. Juan Soto scored just ahead of Judge, followed soon after by Chisholm Jr., who hit a homer in the same inning to add another run.

This time, in Game 5, the Yankees started the way they should have in previous games—aggressively, just as Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres once said, aiming to “set the tone” as early as possible.

Before his home run, Aaron Judge had been in a rough slump, drawing plenty of criticism with just two hits against the Dodgers across the first four games. However, he now has 16 career postseason home runs with the Yankees.

Another Rough Postseason for Judge

After the Game 5 loss to the Dodgers, this marks the fourth postseason in which Aaron Judge has hit three or more home runs across any round. His first home runs came in the ALCS, with only one in the World Series.