Aaron Judge is back.
The Yankees slugger — finally, mercifully — hit his first home run of the World Series, going deep off the first pitch he saw from Jack Flaherty in the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday night’s Game 5 against the Dodgers.
The two-run shot to right-center field also plated Juan Soto, who walked in front of him, for a 2-0 lead, much to the delight of the Yankee Stadium crowd.
Things only got more raucous when Jazz Chisholm followed it up with a solo shot of his own.
For Judge, the long ball — his first since ALCS Game 3 against the Guardians on OCt. 17 — was welcome departure from his playoff struggles, which have only magnified since the start of the World Series.
The 403-foot shot marked his third hit and first extra-base hit against the Dodgers thus far.
Judge continued his electric night with a leaping catch while crashing into the wall in the fourth inning to rob Freddie Freeman of an extra-base hit.
It was a good sign for the Yankees, too, as they try to extend the Fall Classic one more time on the heels of Tuesday’s 11-4 Game 4 win.
