The Yankees transformed Yankee Stadium into a home run carnival Saturday, unleashing an offensive tsunami that drowned the Milwaukee Brewers 20-9 and rewrote franchise history. Propelled by a team-record nine home runs, including a trio from slugger Aaron Judge, the Yankees delivered a historic “ass-whooping of the Brewers” that showcased their revamped power core and early-season dominance.
The emphatic victory placed the Yankees in rare company as just the third team in MLB history to hit nine or more home runs in a single game, joining the 1987 Blue Jays (10 homers) and 1999 Reds (9 homers). The Bronx Bombers also accomplished something never before seen in their storied history: opening a game with three consecutive home runs on the first three pitches they faced.
“We’re on a mission,” declared Judge, who collected a career-best eight RBIs in the onslaught. “A lot of guys are disappointed with what happened last year, myself included, and it starts with preparing ourselves now.”
Four records for the Yankees’ power exhibition
#1. Unprecedented opening salvo: Three straight homers to begin a game
Goldschmidt, Bellinger, and Judge launched consecutive bombs on the first three pitches of the bottom of the first inning. No Yankees team had ever achieved this feat before—and no MLB team had ever homered on the first three pitches they faced in a game.
#2. First-inning fireworks set franchise mark
With Austin Wells adding to the opening frame explosion, the Yankees connected for four home runs in the first inning—the first time in franchise history they’ve hit that many in a single inning.
#3. Back-to-Back days, back-to-back leadoff homers
Wells homered to lead off Opening Day. Goldschmidt followed with another in Game 2—his first career appearance in the leadoff position. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this made the Yankees the first team in major league history to record leadoff homers in each of their first two games by two different players making their first career starts as leadoff hitters.
#4. Nine-homer total shatters Yankees’ previous best
In the seventh inning, Oswald Peraza joined the party, drilling a two-run pinch-hit homer to give the Yankees their ninth long ball of the game, a new franchise record. Across MLB history, only the 1987 Blue Jays (10) and 1999 Reds (9) had reached or exceeded that mark. Notably, the first home run in that Reds game was hit by Aaron Boone, now the Yankees’ manager.
The Yankees’ seven home runs in the first three innings set a Major League record. By the end of the day, they also became the first team in MLB history to start their first two games of a season with different leadoff hitters, each homering in their debut atop the lineup: Wells on Opening Day and Goldschmidt in Game 2.
#5. Seven homers through three innings an MLB first
With four in the first, one from Volpe in the second, and blasts from Judge and Chisholm Jr. in the third, the Yankees became the first team in major league history to hit seven home runs in the first three innings of a game.
A record for Aaron Judge as he orchestrates symphony of power
Aaron Judge’s spectacular afternoon began with his season’s first homer, following Goldschmidt and Bellinger’s back-to-back shots. He delivered a grand slam in the third and added a two-run blast in the fourth, nearly connecting for a fourth when his drive caromed off the Bank of America sign in right-center field for a double.
This performance marked the third three-homer game of Judge’s illustrious career, and he had two opportunities to make it four—a feat accomplished only 18 times in major league history. His eight RBIs established a new personal best, reinforcing his status as the centerpiece of the 2025 Yankees offense. Now the buzz is growing about him going past his 62 home run record.
Yankees’ remarkable stats tremble record books
Judge joins Yankees royalty with third three-homer game
Judge became only the third Yankee in history with three three-homer games, joining Joe DiMaggio and Alex Rodriguez, and sitting just behind Lou Gehrig’s record of four, according to Sarah Langs.
MVP trifecta leaves mark in record books
Goldschmidt (2015), Bellinger (2019), and Judge (2022, 2024) made the Yankees just the second team in MLB history to hit three consecutive home runs by former MVPs, matching the 2024 Dodgers trio of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman.
Record-setting season start with 11 homers in two games
Through just two games, the Yankees now have 11 home runs, more than any team in MLB history through the first two games of a season. They surpassed the 2019 Dodgers and 1980 Brewers, who previously held the record with nine.
It’s an emphatic statement to start the 2025 campaign, especially after an offseason in which the Yankees lost 41 home runs worth of production in free agency. Their revamped lineup, built around veteran MVPs and rising stars like Volpe and Chisholm, has already delivered a message to the rest of the league.
Second-best MLB show
The Yankees tied with the Cincinnati Reds of 1999 for most home runs in a game and second to the 1987 Blue Jays (10 homers).
Offensive spectacle overshadows defensive concerns
While the offense erupted, the Yankees’ defense faltered, committing five errors, including two by Pablo Reyes and one by Anthony Volpe. Max Fried, making his debut after signing a $218 million contract, allowed six runs (just two earned) over 4 2/3 innings, battling command issues and suffering from subpar defensive support.
Even with a comfortable 4-0 advantage after one inning, the Yankees’ defensive miscues nearly allowed Milwaukee to climb back into contention. But as the home run barrage continued, any hopes of a Brewers comeback were thoroughly extinguished.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy offered a blunt assessment: “We had an unfortunate game, and a lot of it was due to how good the Yankees are. But today was an ass whooping.”
The bottom line
The Yankees stand at 2-0 to begin the 2025 campaign. Their offense appears historically potent, and Aaron Judge seems primed for another MVP-caliber season. However, with defensive concerns and pitching questions still evident, the team may need to rely heavily on its offensive firepower—at least in the early going.
One thing remains undeniable: This team has emphatically reminded baseball what it means to earn the moniker “Bronx Bombers.”
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