NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees\u2019 home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,\u201d Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins<\/a>. \u201cHe was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He\u2019s tuned into the game and watching.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner\u2019s old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,\u201d Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. \u201cHe took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardner has been in the Yankees\u2019 thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation<\/a> in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning<\/a> was the cause of death.<\/p>\n Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Cap, again, setting the tone,\u201d said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. \u201cSent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.\u2019 So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury P\u00e9rez for a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n