Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the first inning after nearly striking out and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

Judge hit his fourth homer of the season after Oakland starting pitcher Joe Boyle (1-4) was called for a balk. Doyle was called for the balk after throwing a called third strike to Judge, who began walking back to the dugout before returning to finish the at-bat.

After the balk, Judge lined a fastball into the right-field seats to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. It was Judge’s 261st career homer and the slugger passed former captain Derek Jeter for ninth place on the Yankees’ all-time list.

Judge also singled in the third for his first multi-hit game since April 13 and fourth of the season.

Anthony Rizzo homered for the second straight game and Juan Soto also homered as the Yankees won for the fifth time in seven games.

Anthony Volpe hit an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Soto in the fourth as the Yankees beat Oakland for the 10th time in the past 11 home meetings. Alex Verdugo also contributed a sacrifice fly when the Yankees loaded the bases in the seventh.

Oakland’s Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer in the sixth that chased New York starter Clarke Schmidt (2-0).

Schmidt allowed three runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked two in 5 1/3 innings.

Boyle allowed two runs on three hits in three innings. He struck out six and walked four.

After Judge’s homer, the Yankees added two in the fourth off Michael Kelly.

Austin Wells opened the inning with a bunt single and scored when Volpe’s sinking liner went past Oakland right fielder Lawrence Butler, who was charging the ball.

After Soto made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, Rizzo homered into the right-field seats off Kelly in the fifth. Rooker’s drive to left got Oakland within 5-3 but Soto hit his sixth homer of the season in the sixth as his drive barely cleared the center-field fence.

–Field Level Media