In a close contest at Yankee Stadium, the Cincinnati Reds secured a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Despite the loss, Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge added another milestone to his impressive season by hitting his 32nd home run, the highest in the majors this year.

The Reds capitalized on strong performances from their young talents. In the fifth inning, 22-year-old Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson each hit two-run homers, helping Cincinnati establish a commanding 5-0 lead. This game was particularly special for De La Cruz, who grew up as a Yankees fan and was playing at Yankee Stadium for the first time, a venue he frequented as a fan during his youth.

“Some players are just comfortable in the big spot,” Reds manager David Bell commented on De La Cruz’s performance. “It’s not just a certain city or location, but the importance of a game, the importance of an at-bat. He’s just comfortable in those spots. He believes in himself. He has confidence playing the game, and he’s just at the beginning.”

Aaron Judge’s home run tally of 32 places him five ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani, who is in second place. Judge, 32, is on track to potentially match or exceed his own American League record of 62 home runs in a season, set in 2022. With 87 of 162 games played, Judge’s performance continues to be a standout, highlighted by his 14 home runs in May that earned him the AL Player of the Month award.

Despite Judge’s heroics, the Yankees have hit a rough patch, losing seven of their last ten games. They currently hold a 54-33 record, placing them second in the AL East. The Reds, on the other hand, improved to 40-45 for the season, standing second to last in the NL Central.

Tuesday’s game showcased the Reds’ emerging talent and highlighted the consistency of Judge’s slugging prowess. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on their performances, with the Yankees aiming to regain their winning form and the Reds continuing to develop their young stars.