TAMPA, Fla. -- Aaron Judge wasn’t about to leave Florida empty-handed.

The Yankees captain connected for his first Grapefruit League home run of the year on Saturday, launching a two-run blast in the third inning off the Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo. Judge finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs in New York’s 8-7 loss.

Judge barreled a 95.6 mph Luzardo sinker over the left-field wall at George M. Steinbrenner Field, coming off the reigning American League MVP’s bat at 107.7 mph and traveling a Statcast-calculated 381 feet.

“I like seeing him do that,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s definitely good to see the captain break out his home run trot.”

It has been a relatively quiet spring at the plate for Judge, who entered Saturday’s action with three hits in 26 at-bats (.115), and just two RBIs.

“I think he tries different things, tinkers with things throughout the spring,” Boone said. “The last several games especially, he’s winning a lot of pitches. I thought today he got some good swings off, too.”

Judge has been adding extra plate appearances in live batting practice, saying that he’d like to log 40 to 50 spring at-bats before the team goes north.

“I think that might help us start April off a little better,” Judge said earlier this spring.

The Yankees open the regular season March 27 against the Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

“He looks great,” said first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. “We know him; when he gets going, it’s scary. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go on Thursday.”

Good as Gold
Goldschmidt returned to the Yankees' lineup on Saturday, going 0-for-2 with a bases-loaded walk. Goldschmidt last played on March 17 against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., when he left after two plate appearances with a sore back.

“Just continuing to get ready for Opening Day,” he said.

Goldschmidt is expected to play in two of the three remaining exhibitions, and Saturday marked his first turn in the leadoff spot.

Boone is considering using Goldschmidt at the top of the order against left-handed starters this season; last year, Goldschmidt had a .366 on-base percentage against southpaws.

“It was kind of fun, and obviously it was a little different,” Goldschmidt said. “For me, I just try to take the same at-bat I always take. I’ve hit in a lot of different positions in my career. It’s not really different, no matter where you’re hitting. I think by the time you get in the box, you just get in there and compete, and try to have a good at-bat.”