NEW YORK -- Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge wasted no time in making an impact on the New York Yankees on Saturday, becoming the first teammates to hit home runs in the first at-bats of their major league debuts in the same game.
And the Baby Bombers did it back-to-back in a five-pitch span against Tampa Bay.
Called up before the game as part of the Yankees' youth movement, Austin batted seventh and sliced Matt Andriese's 2-2 fastball to the opposite field in the second inning. The 331-foot drive down the right-field line landed in the first row over the short porch, about 3 feet fair.
Judge drove a 1-2 change-up 446 feet, a shot off the railing above a sports bar in center field and into the netting above Monument Park.
Only once before had two players homered in the first at-bat of their debuts in the same game, and they were on opposing teams: Brooklyn's Earnie Koy and the Phillies' Heinie Mueller in the first inning at Philadelphia's Baker Bowl on April 19, 1938.
New York started a pair of players making their big league debuts for the first time since center fielder Jim Lyttle and catcher John Ellis against the California Angels on May 17, 1969.
Judge had just ordered a postgame midnight meal with his parents in Rochester when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Al Pedrique walked up to his table at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and told him about the call-up. So after a bacon burger and mac and cheese, the 24-year-old first baseman drove through the night with mom and dad, arriving at a Parsippany, New Jersey, hotel around 6 a.m.
"It was kind of a shock," said Judge, who at first thought Pedrique was kidding.
Austin, also 24, had gotten his news earlier Friday. When his flight was canceled, the Yankees sent a car service to take him on the 5-hour drive.
New York made the roster moves as it released 41-year-old Alex Rodriguez. And in a coincidence that highlighted the generational change, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams were at Yankee Stadium for a 20th anniversary celebration of the 1996 World Series championship team, the start of a dynasty that would win four titles in five years.
"I'm excited to see all these guys that I watched on TV in October," Judge said.
Manager Joe Girardi noticed the parallels.
"I think it's good for them to be here today to see that these guys were young, these guys performed at a high level and they had a long run. Let's go do the same thing," the manager said.
Receiving their first recognition from the Bleacher Creatures in the game-opening roll call, they joined 23-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez, who entered the game hitting .357 (10 for 28) with three doubles, a home run and four RBI since he was brought up Aug. 3.
Girardi said Judge, a burly 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, will be the regular right fielder. Austin will share time at first with Mark Teixeira and also DH.
General manager Brian Cashman planned to bring up Austin and added Judge once it became clear following Friday night's game that Brett Gardner would be sidelined for several days after getting hit by a pitch above the right ankle.
"I figured Judge, being his first call-up, he's not going to sleep anyway," Cashman said. "Thank God he's young, because if that was me, I would be a zombie right now."
Austin got action two pitches in, gloving the throw from shortstop Didi Gregorius on Logan Forsythe's grounder. Judge caught the final out of the first, stretching with his left arm to snag Evan Longoria's flyout and then bracing himself with both hands as he hit the padded right-field wall.
Austin, who also plays corner outfield and third base, was batting seventh and Judge hit eighth. A 13th-round draft pick in 2010, Austin suffered a wrist injury that slowed his career. After a poor 2015, he was designated for assignment Sept. 1, giving other teams a chance to claim him off waivers.
He remained with the Yankees and after playing in the Arizona Fall League and Venezuelan Winter League, he started this year at Double-A Trenton and was promoted to Scranton on June 4.
Austin didn't know for sure he would start until he saw the lineup posted in the Yankees' clubhouse.
"It's been a bumpy road for sure," he said. "I'm just excited to be here. At the beginning of the year, I honestly didn't think that I would be."
Cashman wouldn't rule out more veterans leaving by the start of next season, opening more opportunities.
"It's always in the best interest to be open-minded and listen," he said. "I wouldn't say anybody is untouchable."
Game notes
RHP Ben Heller was optioned to Scranton. ... Gardner said X-rays were negative. ... RHP Conor Mullee was transferred to the 60-day DL following surgery Tuesday to repair ulnar nerve decompression surgery in his right elbow. ... Judge became the third No. 99 in Yankees history, following Charlie Keller in 1952 and Brian Bruney in 2009.