The New York Yankees achieved a historic milestone on August 29, 2023, by matching their franchise record with nine home runs in a commanding 13-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The game, played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, was delayed for nearly two hours due to rain and lightning, but the Yankees soon showcased their offensive power.
Once the action resumed, the Yankees wasted no time. In the first inning, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton hit consecutive home runs, setting the tone for what would become a remarkable offensive display. This achievement marks the second time this season that the Yankees have recorded nine home runs in a game, previously accomplishing the feat against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 30, 2023. As a result, the Yankees are now the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to have two games with nine home runs in the same season.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “To do it twice, that’s remarkable. 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,” according to MLB.
Bellinger, Stanton, and José Caballero each contributed two home runs, while Judge, Ben Rice, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added one home run each. The Yankees finished just one home run shy of the all-time MLB record of ten home runs in a single game, set by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987.
Bellinger reflected on the team’s dynamic offense, saying, “We have a really good offense. 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.”
With this victory, the Yankees improved their record to 68-57, positioning themselves at the top of the American League Wild Card standings, five games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East. Conversely, the Rays dropped to 61-65 and are currently in fourth place in the division.
The teams will continue their series on Wednesday night in Tampa, where the Yankees will aim to build on this impressive performance.