Yankees slugger Aaron Judge flexes arm power against Rays

TAMPA — Aaron Judge entered Thursday on fire at the plate, then offered a reminder he is not just an offensive force.

Shortly after giving the Yankees an early lead with an RBI single in the top of the first, Judge helped save a run in the bottom of the frame when he threw out a runner trying to go first to third in what became a 6-3 win over the Rays at Steinbrenner Field.

Judge, known for his big arm, fired a bullet to third base to nab Kameron Misner for the first out and save Will Warren from having runners on the corners with no outs.

“Wow, what a throw,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure they told Misner before the game [about Judge’s arm], but he got to live it. That’s about as good as you’ll see right there.”

The Rays also got to live some of Judge’s red-hot start to the season.

They kept him in the ballpark but he went 1-for-4 with a walk, reaching base multiple times for the 10th straight game, tying a career high.