TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees were angry over the home run that wasn't.
Judge drove a changeup from Tampa Bay's Eric Orze deep down the left-field line, high above the foul pole at Steinbrenner Field.
Umpires called the ball foul, a decision upheld in a video review. Judge and manager Aaron Boone were convinced it should have been Judge's eighth home run of the season.
“I think everybody is kind of scratching their head but nothing I can do about it. They missed it and we just got to move on,” Judge said following the Yankees’ 4-0 win.
Boone was ejected after plate umpire Adam Beck called a third strike on the next pitch.
“The audacity of the call standing is remarkable,” Boone said. “I get it’s high, towering, but then it goes to replay and I guess they couldn't find enough conclusive, so we got to live with the call.”
Judge started to have words with Beck after the called third strike. Boone came out of the dugout and immediately was tossed by Beck, then argued with third base umpire Scott Barry over the home run decision. It was the 40th managerial ejection for Boone and first this season.
“It was a fair ball, but that’s why you got replay,” Judge said. “It's tough in a situation like this where in a minor league park the foul poles aren’t as high, so that’s why you have replay, you got every angle. It's a terrible call.”
A two-time AL MVP, Judge is hitting .390 with a major league-leading 25 RBIs.
Yankees teammate Cody Bellinger was impressed by the drive, which landed in the trees beyond left field.
“It was probably the farthest ball I've ever seen hit,” he said.
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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, front, reacts after getting ejected by home plate umpire Adam Beck (38) during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches the flight of the ball as it is called foul during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?
Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.
Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.
Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.
“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”
Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.
By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.
Slot said Salah was a threat all game.
“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.
Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.
It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.
There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.
However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”
“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”
Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
