Yankees’ Aaron Judge flops in big spot as October woes continue in World Series

LOS ANGELES — Aaron Judge had the perfect opportunity to change his playoff reputation.

It came after Juan Soto was walked intentionally with Gleyber Torres on second and two outs in the top of the ninth in Game 1 of the World Series.

But Dave Roberts brought in Blake Treinen, and the Dodgers closer got Judge to pop up to short to end the threat and keep the game tied in a game won, 6-3, by the Dodgers with Freddie Freeman’s grand slam in the 10th.

Aaron Judge walks back toward the dugout after flying out to end the ninth inning of the Yankees’ 6-3 10-inning loss in Game 1 of the World Series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It was the latest bit of disappointment for Judge, the other-worldly player who hasn’t been able to break through in the playoffs for much of his career.

And the first World Series game of his career looked a lot like his prior October performances.

He whiffed his first three times at bat against right-hander Jack Flaherty, twice with Soto on first base and the Yankees trying to build a rally.

Judge managed a single to center with two outs in the top of the seventh, but he was stranded when Giancarlo Stanton struck out.

The center fielder entered the World Series just 5-for-31 with 13 strikeouts this postseason — though with a pair of homers.

But once again against the Dodgers, Judge left his regular-season brilliance behind, as his 58-homer campaign will certainly earn him another AL MVP award.

Aaron Boone strikes out in the sixth inning of the Yankees' Game 1 loss. — Aaron Boone strikes out in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ Game 1 loss. Jason Szenes / New York Post

When it comes to the playoffs, Judge has been at a loss for a while.

In 37 postseason games since Judge went deep in three consecutive games in the 2018 playoffs against the A’s and Red Sox, he entered Friday just 25-for-142 with 50 strikeouts and an ugly OPS of .634.

It’s not that much better than the .558 OPS Dave Winfield put up in 14 games of the 1981 postseason, his only playoffs with the Yankees that earned him the moniker of “Mr. May” from George Steinbrenner.

Winfield was on the field before Friday’s game, now recognized for his well-rounded Hall of Fame career.

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Judge still has time to change his playoff legacy, but Friday didn’t help. The Yankees advanced in the first two rounds largely without much of his assistance, but they couldn’t in this game.

“The journey is always a tough one, but that’s the fun in all this,’’ Judge said earlier in the week. “There were good times and bad times, but getting to this point, this is where the real fun starts. For years, as a kid I’d watch the Yankees play and win the World Series. That excitement, the emotion, the city comes alive. It’s special. I look forward to doing that with this group.”