SAN FRANCISCO – While the Giants still are searching for their offense like an old man looks for his lost keys, Aaron Judge broke out of his personal slump at the plate by doing what he has done a lot against Robbie Ray.

Judge, the Yankees’ seven-time MLB All-Star and three-time AL MVP, crushed a 3-2 fastball that sailed just inside the left field foul pole at Oracle Park and landed on the steps, a momentum-shaping moment that proved to be pivotal in New York’s 3-0 win on Friday.

It was Judge’s fourth hit in 11 career at-bats off Ray. All four hits have been home runs. 

“It’s never a fun at-bat because he’s a guy that can run that heater up there mid to upper 90s (and) he’s got great feel for his off-speed pitches,” Judge said. “Fly out the first at-bat, he strikes me out the second at-bat … it’s not looking like a good day.”

It turned out to be better than good for the Yankees and Judge for multiple reasons.

Judge’s home run came moments after he won an ABS challenge earlier in the at-bat. Ray threw a 1-0 slider to Judge that was initially ruled a strike until it was overturned by an ABS challenge.

Rather than having a 1-1 count to work off, Ray was down 2-0 and needed to come into the zone rather than trying to get Judge to chase.

The reprieve ruling certainly helped New York.

Five pitches later, Judge ended his 0-for-7 funk to start the season with a jolting, towering home run that went 405 feet with an exit velocity of 109 mph.

“I thought it was borderline,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I knew if (Judge) challenged it, he probably had it down. Obviously turned into making it a real leverage-heavy at-bat for him and he hit a moon shot.”

Judge was the one to ask for the challenge but admitted he wasn’t positive it was the right move.

“I thought the call was going to stand. It was a close one there but not much.” Judge said. “You get in a better count but I still have a job to do.”

Yankees fans were wringing their hands after Judge went hitless on Opening Day for the first time in his career, striking out four times in front of the Oracle crowd on Wednesday.

He was 0-for-7 before his breakout swing off Ray, one that should change that negative narrative. 

It was the 369th home run of his career, tying him for 84th on MLB’s all-time list. That puts the Yankees slugger within 10 of passing former Giants Orlando Cepeda (379) and Matt Williams (378).

“I challenged the best hitter in baseball. He just happened to get me,” said Ray, adding that he didn’t think the overturned call had much of an impact on the home run by Judge. “I just went to the well one too many times. I challenged him and I can live with that. 

“I feel like 3-1 I threw a heater and he wasn’t really expecting it. I thought maybe he’s looking slider. You can look back at it and say ‘you should have elevated it more or should have got it in more’ but I made the pitch I wanted to make and he just got it. Sometimes that’s going to happen.”

Judge obviously was thankful and appreciative of homering off Ray, whom he insists is a challenge to face every at-bat.

“The biggest thing with him is he’s a competitor, so I know going into the box he’s going to challenge you, he’s not afraid of you,” Judge said. “When you have guys like that on the mound, it’s fun to compete with them and see what happens. He’s a special pitcher.”

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