Hicks can only ‘tip cap’ to Yankees’ Judge after two-homer game

While Hicks said he’d take back two pitches that were launched 820 feet, a splitter that traveled 394 feet and a sinker that went 426 feet, there’s a bigger lesson to be learned that the 27-year-old identified. Hicks, or anybody else for that matter, can’t let such a powerful bat like Judge get into a favorable situation.

Hicks didn’t allow a walk for the fourth time this season in 12 starts. Yet he also fell behind in 10 of the 23 batters he faced. Though he threw over 67 percent strikes, Hicks let perhaps the most intimidating man in baseball feel mighty comfortable at the plate.

Judge hit both of his homers in three-ball counts. Hicks threw a first-pitch ball during the at-bat of Judge’s first homer but then had two strikes on him two pitches later. Judge wound up battling an eight-pitch at-bat before taking advantage of a splitter in his wheelhouse. 

The long ball was the first homer Hicks has allowed off a splitter all season. 

Hicks threw a first-pitch strike in Judge’s next at-bat, but then three straights balls way out of the zone put him in a tough spot. Judge then once again unloaded on a ball low and inside, this time a sinker that sank right where all 6-foot-7 of him wanted it. 

“He’s just too good of a hitter to be that comfortable,” Hicks said. “You got to be a lot more selective in those moments.” 

Although the five runs, four earned, that Hicks gave up were his most allowed this season, he also hit a milestone. Hicks already had thrown 89 pitches through five innings. His previous season high and career high was 96 pitches on April 21. The Giants’ bullpen has been through the ringer and Hicks told manager Bob Melvin after the fifth inning that he still felt good. 

When Hicks was pulled in the sixth, he came out having thrown a new career-high 101 pitches. Hicks is happy to hit the milestone for the first time in the majors, and didn’t feel more fatigued compared to other outings. 

“I feel like I’m at a full build up right now,” Hicks said. “It’s good for me in my own head to get that 100-pitch mark. If there is a situation where we need to go 110 and the bullpen is beat up or something like that, I think 10 or 15 extra pitches isn’t too far off.”