Talking smack of any kind before facing Aaron Judge is a bold move, and that's precisely what Boston Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins did.
Before making his rivalry debut in the series finale against the New York Yankees, the lifelong Red Sox fan Dobbins told the Boston Herald he would retire if the Yankees were the only team to offer him a contract.
Then, in the bottom of the first inning, Dobbins made the ill-fated decision to throw a middle-middle fastball to Judge, the sport's best hitter. The Yankees captain annhiliated it, sending a 436-foot moonshot to right-center field.
Judge's teammates couldn't follow up his act, as Dobbins settled in before allowing one more solo blast to DJ LeMahieu. And the Yankees' pitching staff imploded, letting up 11 runs over the game's final five innings to drop the series.
However, no one gets one up on Judge these days. And the Yankees' superstar admitted Dobbins' comments were on his mind when he strolled into the batter's box.
“Once somebody tells you, yeah,” Judge said, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
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What did Judge think of the rookie's bold comments?
“I’ve only heard Ken Griffey (Jr.) say that,” Judge said, per Dunleavy. “So, surprised.”
The Yankees' third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone also seemed taken aback by Dobbins' words, though the former admitted he sort of loved the trash talk.
For now, the Red Sox have just a little something to gloat about despite being 8 1/2 games back in the standings. However, New York will get another shot at Dobbins on Saturday at Fenway Park.
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