PITTSBURGH -- In a thrilling display of power and skill, Aaron Judge commemorated his 1,000th game in Major League Baseball by hitting his sixth home run of the season, leading the New York Yankees to a decisive 9-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates during their home opener on Friday.

Judge's impressive home run sailed into the right-center stands in the seventh inning off pitcher Tim Mayza. Ironically, Mayza was also the pitcher who allowed Judge's historic 61st home run last season, a feat that broke the American League record for home runs in a single season. This latest homer not only brought Judge’s career total to an astounding 321 but also marked a significant milestone as it is the most home runs ever hit by a player in their first 1,000 games. This achievement ties him with the legendary Babe Ruth, who also hit 321 home runs during his initial 1,000 games with the Yankees.

The significance of Judge's homer is further highlighted by the fact that it represents the twelfth occurrence of a player hitting six homers within their team's first seven games of the season. Judge stands out as the first player to reach this mark since Trevor Story accomplished the same feat in 2016, who had an impressive total of seven homers during this stretch. Notably, Story is tied with the great Mike Schmidt, who set the all-time record for the most home runs through the first seven games of a season in 1976.

In addition, Judge's latest home run marks his 69th in interleague play since 2016, a remarkable tally that puts him 12 home runs ahead of the next closest players, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, showcasing his prowess as a formidable force in baseball.

Coming off a remarkable previous season where he won his second American League MVP award, Judge has been off to a spectacular start this year, boasting an impressive 17 RBIs in just seven games. This offensive performance underscores his importance to the Yankees as they seek to contend this season.

Oswaldo Cabrera also had an outstanding performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, significantly contributing to the Yankees' success. Rookie Anthony Volpe added to the team's offensive surge with three hits, providing ample support for pitcher Max Fried, who recorded his first win in Yankees pinstripes. Fried allowed just one run and six hits over 5⅔ innings, showcasing his talents on the mound with a walk and striking out six batters.

With this win, the Yankees have now compiled a remarkable 139-38 record since 2020 when Aaron Judge hits a home run, demonstrating the direct impact of the superstar's performance on the team's overall success.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized in the preparation of this report.