NEW YORK — The New York Yankees had a historic power display at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, setting records in a thrilling game against the Milwaukee Brewers that ended 20-9.
In an unprecedented feat, the Yankees became the first team ever to hit three home runs on the first three pitches they faced. Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt kicked off the game with homers, leaving fans electrified. Not long after, Austin Wells joined in, making it the first time the Yankees hit four home runs in a single inning.
Overall, the Yankees knocked out a franchise record of nine home runs in total, cementing their place as the third team in MLB history to achieve such a milestone. The only team to hit more is the Toronto Blue Jays, who set an all-time record with ten homers in a game back in 1987.
"This was a wild, crazy game," remarked Yankees manager Aaron Boone. The excitement didn’t stop there. Judge connected for a grand slam in the third inning, marking his third career game with three homers. He now joins legends Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Alex Rodriguez on that exclusive list.
“It’s pretty special to be mentioned with those guys," Judge said. "But the story isn’t finished yet. I plan to keep adding to my career.”
Despite the offensive explosion, the Yankees had a few hiccups defensively. They committed five errors, their highest in nearly five years, highlighting an area for potential improvement. Boone has emphasized tightening up the defense, especially after a rough outing like this one.
After the game, Brewers manager Pat Murphy jokingly described the beatdown as an “old-fashioned ass whooping.” He expressed disbelief at the unique start to the game, sharing that he’s never seen three home runs come off three pitches in his extensive baseball career.
Brewers pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr., who once shined in the Yankees jersey, faced a tough homecoming, giving up seven runs in just two and a third innings. After the ballgame, he didn’t speak to the media but was expected to provide comments the following day.
Interestingly, this game reflects a trend in baseball where offenses are becoming more explosive. According to a recent report from ESPN by analytics expert Sarah Langs, more teams are seeing multi-homer games, a sign of changing hitting philosophies focusing on power over contact.
Fan excitement was evident on social media, with numerous tweets praising the Yankees’ power surge. One particularly enthusiastic tweet from MLB read, “WHAT A START FOR THE YANKEES!!! 3 pitches, 3 home runs!!”
Looking ahead, the Yankees have shown promise for the rest of the season. They revamped their lineup to tackle left-handed pitchers more effectively. As Judge mentioned, the familiarity with Cortes gave them a strategic advantage, impacting their aggressive hitting.
In a league increasingly driven by data, the way teams adapt and strategize could determine their success. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these trends play out and whether the Yankees can maintain their early momentum.
Source link
Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, MLB