The New York Yankees matched a franchise record by hitting nine home runs in a 13-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The offensive display included consecutive first-inning home runs from Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton off Rays pitcher Shane Baz.
“We have a really good offense,” Bellinger said. “With the ebbs and flows of a 162-game season, it’s not always going to be pretty, but we all believe in each other. The talent’s there, and we’re doing a good job of putting it all together. It’s been fun to be a part of.”
This was the second time this year that the Yankees have hit nine homers in one game; they previously accomplished the feat on March 29 against the Milwaukee Brewers in New York. According to Major League Baseball records, no other team has had multiple games with nine or more home runs in any season.
“To do it twice, that’s remarkable,” manager Aaron Boone said. “There were some ones that were seriously hit, too. Just a really impressive offensive showing against a team that is not always easy to score runs against.”
Boone acknowledged losing track during the streak: “Did we hit nine?” The Yankees finished one shy of tying the Major League record set by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987.
Stanton and Bellinger each hit two home runs on Tuesday. José Caballero also homered twice after watching a tribute video from his former club on the scoreboard.
“That’s why they are the Bronx Bombers,” Caballero said. “Hanging out with those guys, something has to be contagious.”
The Yankees provided early run support for starting pitcher Carlos Rodón when Judge hit his 40th homer of the season—a 429-foot shot—off Baz in the first inning.
The game took place as questions lingered about Judge’s health following a right flexor strain affecting his throwing arm. Boone publicly raised concerns about whether Judge would be fully healthy upon returning to outfield duties. Judge stated he expects to recover fully and continues to perform well at bat. He became only the fourth player in franchise history with four seasons of at least 40 home runs, joining Babe Ruth (11), Lou Gehrig (5), and Mickey Mantle (4).
Bellinger followed Judge’s homer with another shot to right field, while Stanton added his own drive to right-center field.
“The way he’s been hitting lately,” Bellinger said of Stanton, “the preparation and the mental side of the game is really fun to watch. He’s locked in at the plate right now. It’s very impressive.”
This marked New York’s third stretch this season with three consecutive home runs—a feat previously achieved only by two other teams: the 1982 Brewers and last year’s Dodgers.
Rays manager Kevin Cash commented on his team’s performance: “Give credit to the Yankee lineup,” Cash said. “They came in and capitalized on any pitch that was a quality pitch or a mistake pitch. They got on a run offensively and we didn’t have an answer for it.”
Other contributors included Jazz Chisholm Jr., who hit a two-run homer for Tampa Bay; Stanton added another three-run blast; Ben Rice also homered for New York.
Rodón earned his 13th win after pitching six innings and allowing two runs on five hits despite weather delays before first pitch.
“A lot of good swings,” Boone said. “Every game is big. … I don’t take it lightly when we’re able to really add on and have a game like this.”
Rodón credited his teammates’ offense for making his outing easier: “Once again, they made it easy,” Rodón said. “They swung the bats great. They gave me the cushion to go out there and try to attack the zone. They were incredible tonight.”
