Daily Report – 8/20/25

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

What kind of team hits nine home runs in two different games in a single season? In case you were wondering, THAT IS NOT NORMAL!

The last time this happened was the second game of the 2025 season, and the Yankees hit nine home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers, setting a franchise record for the most home runs hit in a single game. The all-time MLB record for home runs in a single game is 10, a feat accomplished by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987. Now, the New York Yankees aren’t just the first team in Major League history to have multiple nine-home run games in a single season, but the first franchise to ever record multiple nine-homer games in its history.

Do you see why this isn’t normal?

“To do it twice, that’s remarkable,” said manager Aaron Boone, who was also part of Cincinnati’s 9-homer barrage in 1999. “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.” The Yankees’ nine home runs propelled them to a 13-3 demolition of the Rays.

After the Yankees hit nine home runs on March 29, the entire baseball universe struggled to comprehend the concept of “torpedo bats,” which many Yankees players used that day. After accomplishing the feat again late last night, following a rain delay of nearly two hours, broadcasters and reporters alike seemed unsurprised. On the postgame show, Jack Curry had to take a step back and remind his colleagues that it is not normal for a team to hit nine home runs in a game, let alone twice in a single season.

Aaron Judge got things started for the Yankees with his 40th home run of the season, a 429-foot moonshot to dead center field. He joined Babe Ruth (11), Lou Gehrig (five), and Mickey Mantle (four) as the fourth Yankees slugger ever to record four different 40-home run seasons. Cody Bellinger immediately followed, and Giancarlo Stanton went yard next for back-to-back-to-back home runs. Or, as John Sterling would say, belly-to-belly-to-belly. The Yankees are now the first team since the 2024 Dodgers and 1982 Brewers to have three different instances of back-to-back-to-back home runs (Sharp). They also did it on March 29 against Milwaukee and on April 29 in Baltimore.

“We have a really good offense,” said Cody Bellinger. “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.”

Also, for the second time in franchise history (and the first time since 1961), the Yankees saw three players have multi-homer games. Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and José Caballero each hit two home runs as part of the Bombers’ nine. Caballero’s performance was the most impressive, since he entered the game after hitting only two home runs all season. After the Rays presented Caballero with a tribute video, he doubled his season home run total, beginning with a two-run shot to right field that just cleared the fence.

“That’s why they are the Bronx Bombers,” said Caballero, smiling. “Hanging out with those guys, something has to be contagious.”

Carlos Rodón’s only difficult inning was the second, in which he gave up two runs. He experienced some difficulty managing the humidity, but he battled despite having to wait nearly two hours after warming up. Rodón delivered six innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks on 102 pitches. He credited the offense for his success. “They swung the bats great,” Rodón remarked. “They gave me the cushion to go out there and try to attack the zone.”

In the third inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. responded to Tampa Bay’s two runs with a solo shot of his own, on a knuckle curveball he sent flying to right-center field. In the fourth inning, Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run dinger for his second home run of the game, and Ben Rice followed him with his own solo shot to right-center. The Yankees went back-to-back again.

The next Bombers blast came in the sixth inning as Cody Bellinger delivered his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that put the Yankees ahead 12-2. They wouldn’t score again until there were two outs in the top of the ninth, and José Caballero blasted his second long ball of the game.

For reference, here is the order of the Yankees’ nine home runs:

1. Judge

2. Bellinger

3. Stanton

4. Caballero

5. Chisholm

6. Stanton

7. Rice

8. Bellinger

9. Caballero

Last night’s win came alongside losses by Boston, Seattle, and Toronto, so the Yankees gained a game in the division and Wild Card standings. They now sit 4.5 games behind Toronto for the American League East lead, 1.5 games ahead of Seattle for the first AL Wild Card spot, and one game ahead of Boston for second place.

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Tonight, at 7:35, the Yankees will try to win their fifth straight game as they conclude their short visit to Tampa (YES). RHP Cam Schlittler (1-2, 3.94 ERA) will start for the Yankees against the 10-5 righty Drew Rasmussen and his shiny 2.60 ERA.

Here is tonight’s starting lineup for the New York Yankees:

1. CF Trent Grisham (L)

2. 1B Ben Rice (L)

3. DH Aaron Judge (C) (R)

4. RF Cody Bellinger (L)

5. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L)

6. LF Jasson Domínguez (S)

7. SS Anthony Volpe (R)

8. 3B Ryan McMahon (L)

9. C Austin Wells (L)

SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (1-2, 3.94 ERA)

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Schedule

7:35 PM: NYY at TB; YES; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (1-2, 3.94 ERA)