Andrew McCutchen Takes Fielding Inspiration from Aaron Judge

The Phillies might have Aaron Judge to thank for their Game 2 win.

Philadelphia Phillies left-fielder Andrew McCutchen is known for his bat and the overall positivity that he brings to the clubhouse, but he might have been inspired or given extra motivation to make a game-changing play thanks to one of his former New York Yankees teammates.

In the bottom of the second inning of Game 2 of their Friday doubleheader against the New York Mets, McCutchen made an unbelievable leaping catch at the left-field wall to rob a two-home run from Albert Almora. The play was confirmed after replay review, upholding the original call of a flyout.

https://twitter.com/NBCSPhilly/status/1408583655275077634

Earlier this month — just a series removed from being swept by the Phillies in a two-game set at Citizens Bank Park — Yankees right-fielder Aaron Judge made a similar incredible catch in right field to rob young Toronto Blue Jays star Cavan Biggio of a two-run home run.

The Phillies were off that night, as they finished their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and were preparing to face Gabe Kapler and the San Francisco Giants the next day. Therefore, McCutchen was able to tune into the Yankees-Blue Jays game and quickly took to social media to praise Judge.

The sixth-inning catch preserved the one-run Yankees deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the next half-inning, manager Joe Girardi’s former team carried over momentum from Judge’s catch and scored four runs, before ultimately winning 8-4.

As for McCutchen’s play, it kept the Phillies-Mets game scoreless and propelled starter Matt Moore to toss five scoreless innings in his first start since April 17. Bryce Harper would later deliver the game’s first run with his franchise-record 11th straight solo home run to start the season. The Phillies won in extras, 2-1, to split the doubleheader against their division rival.

Cutch seemingly reacted to his stellar play later Friday night: