The New York Yankees achieved a historic feat by hitting a franchise record-tying nine home runs in a commanding 13-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on August 29, 2023. Following a nearly two-hour delay due to rain and lightning, the Yankees’ offense erupted early in the game, with stars Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton launching consecutive home runs in the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
This remarkable achievement marks the second time this season that the Yankees have hit nine home runs in a single game, previously accomplishing the same during a 20-9 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in March. With this latest display of power, the Yankees have become the first franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to record two games with nine home runs in the same season.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed his admiration for the 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,” as reported by MLB.
While the Yankees fell just one home run short of matching the MLB record of ten in a game—set by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987—their offensive prowess was evident throughout the night. Both Bellinger and Stanton finished with two home runs each, while Judge, Ben Rice, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed one home run apiece.
Bellinger highlighted the team’s collective strength, 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.”
This victory improved the Yankees’ season record to 68-57, positioning them at the top of the American League Wild Card standings, although they remain five games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. Conversely, the Rays fell to 61-65, placing them fourth in the division.
Looking ahead, the teams will face off again in the second game of the series on Wednesday night in Tampa, as the Yankees aim to build on their momentum and continue their pursuit of a postseason berth.
