NEW YORK — The New York Yankees hammered three home runs and rolled to a 10-5 win over the White Sox on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. It was the second straight night the Bronx faithful watched their team overwhelm Chicago.
The victory was the Yankees’ eighth in nine games, and it came with a championship flavor in the building.
Knicks stars set the stage
The night carried extra buzz before a pitch was thrown for the Yankees. NBA champions Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks were on hand to deliver ceremonial first pitches.
The crowd was still humming when the Yankees went to work. With the two Knicks watching from behind home plate, chants of ‘M-V-P’ echoed through the early innings.
Cody Bellinger soaked in the moment, calling it a thrill to see the city’s newest champions up close.
“It was cool,” Bellinger said. “Obviously, we were all super tuned in to the series and to the postseason. What they were able to accomplish is pretty amazing.”
Bellinger sets the tone early
The Yankees did not wait long to strike. Bellinger opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run homer off White Sox starter Anthony Kay.
It was the start of a huge night for the outfielder. Bellinger collected three hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle, continuing a red-hot stretch at the plate.
His early blast set the tone for an offense that has refused to slow down, even with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both sidelined by injury.
Goldschmidt and Chisholm pile on
The Yankees blew the game open in the middle innings. Paul Goldschmidt delivered the biggest swing, an opposite-field three-run homer that capped a five-run fifth inning.
The blast was Goldschmidt’s 11th of the season, and it pushed the 38-year-old past his home run total from 146 games a year ago. He has now gone deep three times in four games.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. added to the barrage in the seventh with a solo shot. The home run made Chisholm the fifth Yankee to reach double digits in homers this season.
Rodon steadies the rotation
On the mound, the Yankees got a steady effort from Carlos Rodon. The left-hander kept Chicago at arm’s length while the offense did its damage.
Rodon allowed three runs over five innings, scattering seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk to earn his third win in four starts. Colson Montgomery touched him for a solo homer in the third.
Rodon kept his approach simple as he worked to keep the Yankees in front.
“I’m just trying to go out there and attack the zone, try to get outs,” Rodon said. “Just try to keep us ahead and go as deep as I can.”
A relentless offensive surge
The output capped a staggering two-game stretch for the Yankees. Across the first two games of the series, they piled up 22 runs and 29 hits against Chicago.
Montgomery added a second solo homer off Paul Blackburn in the eighth, but the White Sox never threatened to climb back in. The Yankees have leaned on contributions up and down the order during their hot run.
Boone praised the balanced nature of the attack, with so many different players stepping up.
“When everyone’s playing a role and you’re getting meaningful contributions from everyone, it leads to good times and good vibes,” Boone said. “You love it that way.”
Anthony Volpe sliced a run-scoring triple into the left-center-field gap to push the Yankees in front 3-0 in the second inning. Ali Sánchez added to the damage moments later, shooting an RBI single into right field for a 4-0 lead. He reached base three times, giving the bottom of the order another steady contribution.
Goldschmidt earns high praise
The veteran’s continued surge has impressed his Yankees teammates. Rodon offered glowing words for the future Hall of Famer after the win.
Goldschmidt has carried a heavy load with Judge out, and his power has been a revelation at age 38. Domínguez has taken to calling him ‘Young Goldy’ for the way he keeps producing.
“He’s a Hall of Fame player,” Rodon said. “It’s pretty obvious. He’s been really good at this game for a long time. He’s aging pretty well. I just hope he keeps swinging.”
A team rolling toward a showdown
The win tightened the Yankees’ grip on first place. They now hold a 3 1/2-game lead in the American League East, their largest cushion since April 7.
New York has won nine of 13 games since losing Judge indefinitely to the rib injury, a stretch that has quieted any doubt about the lineup’s depth. Bellinger made clear the team is keeping its perspective despite the surge.
“It’s June,” Bellinger said. “We’ve got to take it day by day.”
The Yankees will go for the series sweep Thursday afternoon as the set with the White Sox wraps up in the Bronx, before hosting the Cincinnati Reds this weekend. For a club that worried about scoring without its stars, the message has been loud and unmistakable. The Yankees are still bludgeoning everyone in their way.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
