Aaron Judge joins elite Yankees company with 500th extra-base hit (yes, it was a HR)

Aaron Judge became the third-fastest New York Yankees player to reach 500 extra-base hits with a three-run homer in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night, trailing only Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig.

Judge lined a 1-1 fastball from Merrill Kelly to the opposite field and into the Yankees bullpen for a 3-0 lead.

Aaron Judge blasts three-run homer, giving Yankees lead over Diamondbacks

The two-time AL MVP finished with three hits and four RBIs to lead New York over Arizona 9-7.

New York’s Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added two-run homers off Kelly (1-1), who allowed a career-high nine runs, nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. The Yankees had 22 homers on a 4-2 opening homestand, five more than any other team hit in its first six games.

Judge fell a triple short of the cycle and is hitting .417 with five homers and 15 RBIs. He has 320 homers, 175 doubles and five triples in 999 games.

DiMaggio reached 500 extra-base hits in 853 games and Gehrig in 869.

Bob Meusel is fourth at 1,091, followed by Robinson Cano (1,130) and Mickey Mantle (1,138).

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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