Judge vs Trout: Two MVPs Go Blow for Blow in an Instant Classic at Yankee Stadium

If you like the kind of game where two multi-time MVP Award winners make history, with each of them hitting a pair of game-changing home runs, then Monday night at Yankee Stadium was exactly what you've been waiting for. The New York Yankees clawed out a thrilling 11-10 walk-off win against the Los Angeles Angels on a wild pitch, snapping a five-game losing streak in the process. But the real story of the night was the epic, blow-for-blow heavyweight fight between Aaron Judge and Mike Trout. For the first time since June 21, 1956—when Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Roy Campanella each hit two homers—two three-time MVPs each hit multiple home runs in the same game. The Heavyweight Bout Judge set the tone in his very first at-bat back in the Bronx. Following a sweep by the Rays, Judge had preached a simple message to New York's lineup: "We need to simplify." He simplified things immediately by sending a hanging changeup from Yusei Kikuchi a Statcast-projected 456 feet into the left-field bleachers. The exit velocity on Judge's fifth homer of the year was a blistering 116.2 mph—the hardest-hit home run across the Majors so far this season. Not to be outdone, Mike Trout launched a game-tying three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning. Judge immediately answered in the bottom half with his second blast of the game to put the Yankees back ahead. Another no-doubter, punctuated by a casual bat flip. Trout looked like he would get the last laugh in the eighth inning, smacking what appeared to be the game-winner with a two-run shot off reliever Camilo Doval for his fourth homer of the year. "He's the greatest, the greatest of all time," Judge said with a smile postgame about Trout. "Every time he comes to the Bronx, man, he puts on a show. I hate to see it, but it's fun competing against a guy like that." The Unlikely Hero While the MVPs traded haymakers, it was Trent Grisham who ultimately saved the day for New York. Mired in a slump and without an extra-base hit since March 31, Grisham broke out in a massive way. He first delivered a go-ahead three-run pinch-hit blast in the fifth inning. Then, trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth, Grisham hit a game-tying two-run homer off Angels closer Jordan Romano. That clutch swing set the stage for José Caballero to scamper home on a walk-off wild pitch moments later. Judge now has 28 home runs that have traveled over 455 feet in the Statcast era, second only to teammate Giancarlo Stanton (30). It was also his 47th career multi-homer game, passing Mickey Mantle for the second most in Yankees franchise history behind Babe Ruth (68). "It was definitely a battle," Trout said. "A fun one to be part of. The loss is disappointing, but we fought throughout the whole game... To go blow for blow like that back and forth with both teams, it's pretty cool." --- Related reading: See who else is heating up in our piece on Jordan Walker's historic home run tear, and read our take on why the Dodgers are the most dangerous bet in baseball.