How Yankees’ Aaron Hicks is proving doubters foolish

Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks clubs three home runs in the 11-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, July 1, 2018 (7/1/18). The Yankees hit six home runs in the game to move into a tie for first place in the American League East.

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NEW YORK — It was May 15. Aaron Hicks was hitting .206. Clint Frazier was mashing at Triple-A. The calls from impatient Yankees fans bench Hicks and put the shiny new toy in the lineup were loud enough to shatter glass.

No more.

Hicks’ revenge tour hit its highest point Sunday when he ripped three home runs in an 11-1 drubbing of the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

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The win brought the Yankees back into a tie with their hated rivals atop the American League East.

And the performance was everything Yankees fans had been seeing from Hicks for weeks, but wanted to ignore — well, at least some of them.

“He controls the strike zone from both sides of the plate,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s one of those guys that makes the pitcher work really hard, takes his walks. We’ve really seen the power come on here, especially right-handed. He’s hit some really big shots. He’s playing really well for us and we need it.”

Hicks became just the third Yankee to hit three home runs in a game vs. the Red Sox, joining Lou Gehrig and Mark Teixeira. He’s also the first Yankees leadoff hitter to hit three bombs in a game.

Since May 18, he’s hitting .281 with eight homers and a .885 OPS in 35 games — all while providing stellar center field defense. All eight of those home runs have come in the last 15 games.

Overall, he’s hitting .258 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI.

“I feel like I’m being able to be patient in the box,” Hicks said. “When I get down 0-2, I don’t feel rushed. I feel confident in my abilities to put the ball in play and do it hard.”

On Sunday, Hicks also hit homers from both side of the box. Boone didn’t know how to describe being able to do something like that.

“I can’t imagine hitting from both sides of the plate at this level and to do it like he has and to do it at this stage, to really go out and have a three-homer night and one from each side, I’m sure that’s some pretty special company that he joined,” Boone said.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.