Yankees power display

The Yankees powered to a 13-3 win over the Rays, becoming the first MLB team to hit nine homers in a game twice in a season.

Yankees hit nine homers in a game twice this season

TAMPA, Fla. The Yankees exploded for nine homers in a 13-3 win over the Rays, matching a club record and becoming the first team to reach nine in a game twice in a season. Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger each hit two, Aaron Judge belted his 40th, and Jose Caballero homered twice in his first game back against his former club. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice also connected, as New York used a rain delayed start at George M. Steinbrenner Field to show its power.

The Yankees previously had nine homers in a March 29 game against Milwaukee, and this night marked another milestone. Judge, Bellinger and Stanton went back-to-back-to-back in the first inning off Shane Baz, accounting for an early 3-0 lead. Boone praised the at-bats, while Bellinger emphasized the group’s belief in each other as the offense carries the team through a long 162-game season. Steinbrenner Field, the Rays’ spring home, provided a compact stage for the display as New York rolled to victory, extending its win streak to four.

This showing underscores the depth of the Yankees lineup and the ease with which it can flip a game with power. The night belongs not just to Judge, Stanton, and Bellinger, but to a bench that contributed and to Caballero who added two homers in his return. If the offense can sustain this level, the team can weather slumps by leaning on multiple threats rather than relying on a single hitter. The setting at Steinbrenner Field also highlights how spring-like environments can amplify a hitting rhythm, offering a glimpse of potential offensive consistency.

Yet one big game does not prove a season. The sample is small, and the Rays were dealing with a midseason home venue while the team tests how its hitters adapt to tougher opponents, travel schedules, and injuries. The real test will come when the calendar fills with travel and tighter rotations, and managers must balance innings with rest while keeping the lineup hot over a long arc.

Highlights

The power display raises expectations, but the season will test whether this offense travels beyond spring settings.