Aaron Judge returns from months-long rib injury in Yankees' win over Rockies

Aaron Judge made his long-awaited return to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

Judge returned to the Yankees ' lineup for their 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies in New York. It marked his first game back with the team after missing the past three months due to a stress fracture in his rib.

Judge received a big standing ovation from Yankees fans when he stepped into the box for the first time. He then struck out.

Judge struggled the rest of the way, too. He struck out again and then flied out to go 0-for-3 before he was pulled after six innings. He didn't get a chance to field a ball in right.

Judge's replacement, Heliot Ramos , drilled a three-run homer in the eighth to help power the Yankees to the victory.

Judge had most recently played on May 31 against the Athletics , and he has been slowly recovering from the stress fracture since then. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last week that Judge was progressing well and building up his workload, and he opted to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. Judge joined the Yankees for their series against the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres in California last week while continuing the recovery process.

On Monday, Judge took live batting practice at Yankee Stadium before he was activated , and then he made the trip over to the US Open in Queens to watch Coco Gauff in her match vs. Iva Jović.

Judge, 34, entered Tuesday with 17 home runs and 38 RBI this season. He holds a career-worst .248 batting average, but Tuesday was just his 60th game of the year.

"Having that guy setting the tone at the top of the lineup, we've missed that most of the season," catcher Austin Wells said last weekend before Judge's return, via The Athletic . "To have him come back at the most pivotal time of the year, I don't think there's anyone that can add the value that he will when he's back."

The Yankees sit at 82-62 after Tuesday's win, which has them in second in the AL East. They lead the American League wild-card race and seem well on their way to a third straight postseason trip.

Even though Judge didn't have the best outing, he's back on the field again with plenty of time to go before the playoffs. That's a start.