Judge hits 464-foot homer. Yankees beat Marlins 9-4 in series opener

MIAMI -- — Aaron Judge hit a 464-foot home run, rookie Anthony Volpe hit a three-run drive and the New York Yankees beat the Miami Marlins 9-4 Friday night.

Judge hit his 22nd homer and is batting .256 with three homers and five RBI since returning from the injured list on July 28. The home run was the longest at Miami this season.

“Any time we can add more runs they feel great,” Judge said. “I feel the past couple of games we’ve had guys on base and just haven’t gotten the big hit. Today we had a couple of clutch hits.”

Volpe hit his 15th homer, putting the Yankees ahead with his second-inning shot off Jesús Luzardo’ (8-7).

“I never set any goals or anything like that,” Volpe said. “I just want to compete every day and try to help the team win.”

Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes went back on the injured list because of a strained left rotator cuff. Randy Vásquez (2-1) allowed two runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings.

“The preparation was the same, I was just focused on what I had to do,” Vásquez said. “The plan was to attack the hitters early and get into good counts.”

Kyle Higashioka had three hits, including a two-run single in the ninth, and Gleyber Torres doubled, singled and drove in a run.

New York was 7 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

“A lot of good things happened out there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re starting to swing the bats off a really good starting pitcher. We were able to hit him hard. That’s a guy who’s in the middle of a really good season. That was good to see.”

Miami’s Luis Arraez went 0 for 4, dropping his major league leading batting average to .366. Arraez is 1 for 12 since getting dropped from leadoff to second in the lineup.

Luzardo allowed seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts since July 9.

“Probably not the best mechanics. Really out of whack,” Luzardo said. “Not being able to come through for the team, I feel like that’s the most frustrating part, but we’re working in between bullpens trying to figure it out, trying to get that feel back.”

Miami closed to 3-2 in the second off Ian Hamilton when Jesús Sánchez hit an RBI triple and scored on Jake Burger’s double.

Oswaldo Cabrera and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa hit consecutive RBI singles in the fourth for a 6-2 lead.

Burger’s RBI double in the fourth and Josh Bell’s solo shot in the sixth pulled the Marlins to 7-4. Bell has three homers in his last two games.

REVERSE

Arraez oiginally was credited with an infield single in the eighth but the Yankees succeeded on a video review to overturn the call by first base umpire Angel Hernández on the throw from Kiner-Falefa at shortstop to first baseman Jake Bauers. Hernández was reversed on three of four replays at first base during a 2018 playoff game between the Yankees and Red Sox.

CHAMPIONSHIP BATTERY

Former Marlins pitcher and 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett threw the ceremonial first pitch to ex-teammate Ivan Rodriguez. Beckett threw a complete game shutout against the Yankees in Game 6 to finish the Marlins’ second World Series title.

ROSTER MOVE

Cortes, who was scheduled to start Saturday, was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday. In addition to Vásquez, RHP Jhony Brito was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 1B Anthony Rizzo (concussion) said before the game he continues to progress and hopes to increase his activities next week.

Marlins: LHP Steven Okert absorbed a 113 mph comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton above his left ankle in the ninth but finished the inning. . RHP Tommy Nance (right shoulder strain) is scheduled to have consecutive rehab outings with Double-A Pensacola Saturday and Sunday.

UP NEXT

RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-10, 4.28) starts for the Marlins on Saturday. Brito (4-5, 5.02) will either start for the Yankees or enter in as a bulk reliever.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb