TAMPA — The New York Yankees are once again igniting discussions about the power of their offense and how it is transforming baseball. This buzz is particularly relevant after the Yankees launched a franchise-record nine home runs in a stunning victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. This explosive performance marks the second time this season the Yankees have achieved this feat, previously setting off the buzz around the "torpedo bat" trend earlier in the year. On this occasion, the Yankees overwhelmed the Rays with a commanding 13-3 win at Steinbrenner Field, marking their fourth consecutive victory.
After enduring a lengthy rain delay of one hour and 55 minutes before the game, which pushed the first pitch to 9:30 p.m., the Yankees came out swinging. Star players Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger, and José Caballero each hit two home runs, contributing to a remarkable total of 3,419 feet of home runs. Caballero epitomized the team’s offensive prowess, stating, “That’s why they are the Bronx Bombers.”
With the Red Sox and Mariners falling short in their respective games, the Yankees (68-57) seized sole possession of the first American League (AL) wild card spot, now leading both teams by a game. Additionally, this victory propelled the Yankees into second place in the AL East for the first time since August 1, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by five games.
In a display that resembled a practice session against minor league pitchers, the Yankees showcased their offensive might against Rays pitchers Shane Baz, Ian Seymour, and Mason Montgomery. These right and left-handers collectively surrendered the nine home runs, allowing Stanton, Bellinger, Caballero, Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Ben Rice to contribute to the historic total. With this win, the Yankees became the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to record multiple nine-homer games in a single season.
“We hit nine? Wow,” exclaimed Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “To do it twice, that’s remarkable. And there were some ones that were seriously hit, too. Just a really impressive offensive showing against a team that obviously is not always easy to score runs against.” The Yankees have now come within one home run of tying the MLB single-game record on two occasions this season.
For the third time this season, the Yankees executed a stunning back-to-back-to-back home run sequence in the first inning, thanks to the explosive bats of Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton. This accomplishment places the Yankees alongside the 2024 Dodgers and 1982 Brewers as the only teams to achieve this feat at least three times in one season, according to Stathead’s Katie Sharp. The other instances occurred on March 29 against the Brewers and April 29 against the Orioles, with Judge participating in all three sequences.
Bellinger, who enjoyed a four-hit night, commented on the team's offensive capabilities, saying, “We have a really good offense. Ebbs and flows of the 162-game season, it’s not always going to be pretty. But we all believe in each other and you know the talent’s there. We’re doing a good job of putting it all together. It’s been fun to be a part of.”
Judge's impressive 429-foot home run on Tuesday marked his 40th of the season, a milestone he has now reached in four different seasons. This achievement places him among an elite group of Yankees, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle, making Judge the only player from that group to hit 40 home runs within his first ten seasons.
Returning to right field after a brief absence due to lower-body soreness, Stanton proved essential to the Yankees’ success. He has now hit 13 home runs in his last 29 games, showcasing his red-hot form. Following the initial onslaught of home runs, Caballero hit his first home run as a Yankee in the second inning, extending the lead to 5-0 against his former team. Chisholm’s solo shot added another run in the third, while Stanton’s second home run, a three-run blast in the fourth, along with Rice’s back-to-back shot, pushed the Yankees' lead to 10-2.
Bellinger capped off the Yankees’ scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, before Caballero added a solo shot in the ninth. This offensive barrage provided ample support for Carlos Rodón, who pitched six innings, allowing only two runs. Despite the weather delays and humidity, Rodón remained focused, stating, “It’s part of it. We got to get this game in. It’s just part of the way we do things. Roll with the punches. … Once again, the offense made it easy.”