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MOOSIC — All rise.

The 10,000 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders fans at PNC Field rose out of their seats after New York Yankees outfielder socked a mammoth home run to right field in the team’s 8-4 win over the Norfolk Tides Tuesday night.

Judge, continuing his rehab from a strained left oblique injury, dazzled in right field and at the plate.

“His timing was better, he saw the ball better,” RailRiders manager Jay Bell said of Judge’s performance. “He handled himself a lot better. His posture was there tonight. It was an improvement over what we saw in Durham. It was encouraging.”

Judge made two stellar plays, including a charging, shoestring catch in right in the fourth, allowing him to throw out Tides designated hitter Cedric Mullins after he started heading to third base.

“He did a nice job running back and making the catch against the wall and doubling Mullins up,” Bell said.

Judge also credited center fielder Mike Tauchman for helping him make the tough plays.

“We were constantly chatting,” he said. “We played together in New York.”

With the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby champ batting in the two-hole, the RailRiders (40-28) channeled their inner Aaron Judge, belting three home runs in the top of the first inning. The recently demoted Tauchman obliterated a three-run shot to right-center off Harrisburg native Tyler Herb in between homers by Mike Ford and Kyle Higashioka.

After jumping out to a five-run lead in the first inning, Randall Delgado (1-2, 5.19 ERA) cruised along until he gave up three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

The Yankees All-Star answered back with a towering blast that impressed Bell.

“There was a little heavier air, but you don’t see righties go that far,” Bell said of Judge’s home run. “It’s just different coming off his bat. To watch him on TV is really enjoyable, but it’s much more enjoyable watching him in person.”

Judge was a bit dismissive of his 400-foot-plus home run that drew him a standing ovation from the crowd.

“It’s just like any other day,” the slugger said. “I got one over the plate. Those guys got good stuff, they like to make it seem like it’s over the plate and nibble at the corners. I had to wait. Take the pitches on the corners and swing at the ones in the strike zone.”

“It felt good to see some pitches. If I’m swinging at the right pitches, I feel that good things will happen. I was happy to add another run to the RailRiders. Man they were on fire today.”

Outfielder Trey Amburgey added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring second baseman Thairo Estrada to extend the RailRiders lead 8-3.

Lefty Stephen Tarpley (4-0, 1.99 ERA) worked two-and-two-thirds innings in relief but got in trouble late in the ninth inning.

After allowing two base runners with two outs, Norfolk catcher Jesus Sucre smoked a single to right field scoring ex-RailRider center fielder Mason Williams. Bell saw enough, signaling for Caleb Ort to finish the game.

After a lengthy 10-pitch at bat, Ort (3-0, 2.04 ERA) hung a fastball down the middle causing Tides third baseman Zach Vincej to foul out to Judge on the right field line. Ort earned his third save of the season.

During the post-game, Judge said that he feels like he’s been ready.

“I told them (New York) I’m ready to go, but they told me to get two games in a row in the outfield,” he said. “I do whatever they tell me.”

Bell on roster moves

Bell expects Clint Frazier to report to the RailRiders Wednesday, since players have 72-hours to report after being optioned down.

“He’s played a lot the last three months,” Bell said of Frazier before Tuesday’s contest. “It’s probably a good idea that he takes a couple days off so he can get back in the swing of things. I’m certain he will come in here with an attitude that he knows he belongs in the big leagues.

“He’s a huge part of the success we’ve (Yankees organization) have had at the big league level. He belongs there. Defensively he’s going to play center field for me. It gives him an opportunity to see the field from that perspective. He will get time at the corners too.”

With the organization releasing Drew Hutchison on Monday, Bell still hopes he latches on to another ball club.

“He did a great job while he was here and hopefully a major league team picks him up and brings him up,” Bell said. “We didn’t have any room for him in New York. He had an out and I think his performance speaks for itself.”

Despite going 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in the month of June, Hutchison owned a 5-4 record with a 5.14 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

Brody Koerner (3-1, 3.25 ERA) to the mound for a 7:05 p.m. start against Tom Eshelman (2-1, 2.45 ERA).

RailRiders 8, Norfolk 4

Tides`AB`R`H`BI

Mullins dh`4`0`2`0

Smith Jr. lf`4`0`0`0

Mountcastle 1b`4`0`1`0

Peterson ss`3`0`2`0

Hayes cf`4`1`1`0

Williams rf`3`2`1`0

Bostick 2b`3`0`1`1

Sucre c`4`1`2`2

Vincej`4`0`1`1

Totals`31`4`11`4

RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI

Ford 1b`5`1`1`1

Judge rf`2`2`1`1

Valera 3b`4`1`1`0

Tauchman cf`4`1`1`3

Higashioka c`4`1`1`1

Wade ss`4`0`2`0

Estrada 2b`3`2`2`0

Morrison dh`2`0`1`1

Amburgey lf`4`0`1`1

Totals`32`8`11`8

Tides`000`030`001 — 4

RailRiders`500`110`010 — 8

2B — SWB Wade, Estrada, NF Hays, Sucre, Vincej ; HR — SWB Ford, Tauchman, Higashioka, Judge

Tides`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Herb, L`4.1`8`7`7`2`3

Flaa`2.2`1`0`0`2`3

L. Gonzalez`1.0`2`1`1`1`0

RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Delgado, W`6.0`7`3`3`1`3

Tarpley`2.2`7`3`3`1`3

Ort, SV`0.1`0`0`0`0`0

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By Dan Stokes

[email protected]

Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes