Samantha Bracksieck was just like all Yankees fans on Thursday night.
Aaron Judge’s wife watched on as it appeared that the Yankees slugger had smashed his 61st home run of the season in the ninth inning on Thursday night. Judge launched a 2-2 Matt Barnes fastball to dead center that had the look of a game-winning, record-tying home run against the rival Red Sox.
Instead, the ball landed at the warning track – and safely in the glove of Red Sox centerfielder Kike Hernandez.
The Fox cameras showed reactions from the crowd, including that of Bracksieck and Judge’s parents as they went through all the emotions of a possible historic homer.
“I just missed it,’’ Judge said.
Bracksieck has been at Judge’s side throughout his soon-to-be MVP season. The high school sweethearts got married at a private ceremony in Hawaii in December.
Samantha Bracksieck (far right) reacts to Aaron Judge’s near home run on Sept. 22, 2022.MLB on FoxThe Post captured a touching moment between the two as they embraced after Judge hit his 60th home run on Tuesday night against the Pirates. Bracksieck and Judge’s parents, Patty and Wayne, waited for Judge outside the Yankees clubhouse to congratulate him on tying Babe Ruth’s 60-home run mark.
Judge still has 13 more games to tie Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 in a season. Maris’ family has been at Yankee Stadium this week, as well.
“It’s mixed emotions,” Maris’ son, Roger Jr., said on Fox’s broadcast before the game. “We want to see Aaron do really, really well. We want to see him have a big night tonight hopefully, and a big night the rest of the week and finish out the year strong.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
Aaron Judge nearly hits his 61st home run of the season on Sept. 22, 2022.Getty Images
Aaron Judge and wife Samantha Bracksieck embrace after hitting his 60th home run of the season.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Samantha Bracksieck (far right) reacts to Aaron Judge’s near home run on Sept. 22, 2022.MLB on Fox“Once again, we like the record, we’re proud of the record, but I think it’s kind of inevitable, he’s probably going to break it at this point the way he’s hitting the ball, the way he’s hitting the ball the last couple of weeks. We’re not expecting the record at the end of the year, but kudos to Aaron for the year he’s having and I wish him the best of luck for sure.”
All was not lost for Judge and the Yankees on this night, though. Josh Donaldson hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the tenth to lift them to a victory, and the team clinched a playoff spot in the process.
