NEW YORK — Revenge tastes sweeter when served with three home runs.
Cody Bellinger torched his former team Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees outfielder launched three homers against the Chicago Cubs in an 11-0 demolition that energized the Bronx crowd.
Seven months after Chicago traded him away, Bellinger delivered his first career three-homer game. He drove in six runs and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. The performance came inches away from baseball immortality when Kyle Tucker robbed him of a fourth blast.
Accorrding to MLB Network’s Sarah Langs, this was the first time in the majors when a player hit three home runs in his forst apperance against the former team.
A sellout crowd of 46,327 witnessed history. Bellinger became the first MLB player to hit three home runs in his debut against a former team. He joined Aaron Judge and Jasson Dominguez as the 29th Yankee to accomplish the feat in a regular season game.
Trade payback delivered in style
The Cubs shipped Bellinger to New York on Dec. 17 for right-hander Cody Poteet. Baltimore later acquired Poteet from the Yankees for cash considerations. Chicago viewed the deal as financial relief. The Yankees saw it as highway robbery.
Bellinger wasted no time making his former team pay. He crushed a 1-1 pitch from Chris Flexen over the right-center wall in the third inning. The blast extended New York’s lead to 3-0 and set the tone for the evening.
The fifth inning brought more punishment. Bellinger launched a two-run shot off Caleb Thielbar into the seats. The eighth inning provided the crescendo. With “Bellinger” chants echoing throughout the stadium, he lifted his third two-run homer beyond Pete Crow-Armstrong’s reach.
“That was a cool moment,” Bellinger said about his curtain call. “It’s a fun place to play. Show up to the yard and expect to win. … We’re all here for one goal.”
Near-perfect night for Bellinger falls just short
Bellinger nearly achieved the impossible in the seventh inning. He sent a 94 mph sinker soaring toward the short porch in right field. Tucker sprinted to the wall, timed his leap perfectly, and snagged the ball just above the fence.
The robbery denied Bellinger a chance at baseball immortality. Only 18 players in MLB history have hit four home runs in a single game.
“I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger admitted with a grin. “Boys were giving me a hard time after [Tucker] robbed it. [Aaron Boone] was giving me a hard time. So my next at-bat, not trying to do too much. I’m glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it.”
Rodon dominates behind Bellinger’s blasts
Carlos Rodon complemented Bellinger’s offensive explosion with pitching excellence. The left-hander learned of his All-Star selection hours before the first pitch. He responded with his best performance in pinstripes.
Rodon worked eight shutout innings while striking out eight batters. He scattered four hits and retired 16 consecutive hitters at one point. His ERA dropped to 3.08 as he continued establishing himself as a legitimate ace.
Aaron Judge provided defensive brilliance behind Rodon. The Yankees captain robbed Crow-Armstrong of a homer in the fourth inning. He followed with a diving catch on Dansby Swanson’s liner. Judge sealed Rodón’s night with a sliding grab near the foul line that denied Tucker a two-run double.
“Like, what are we doing, man?” Rodón said. “I’m used to you hitting homers and you’re diving all over the place making plays for me. He was spectacular tonight. He saved me. He helped me get through eight, for sure.”
All-Star consideration grows
Bellinger’s monster performance sparked renewed All-Star Game discussion. His teammates and manager believe he deserves recognition for his remarkable season.
“I’m excited to head to Atlanta. They have a lot of great guys,” Judge said. “I hope they sneak Bellinger in there for the season he has had so far.”
Boone praised Bellinger’s resilience and ability to reinvent himself. The manager highlighted his journey from MVP to down years to his current resurgence.
“He has been through a lot during his career — MVP, massive power, shoulder injury, really down years,” Boone said. “He has remade himself and adjusted. There is a lot to be said for that ability to persevere through a career.”
Cubs lower hats
Bellinger maintained his relationship with his former teammates despite the lopsided outcome. He insisted no animosity existed between himself and the Cubs organization.
“It was good to see them. We were hanging out and they were hitting early,” Bellinger said. “I have a lot of good relationships over there. It’s really a fun group of guys. I had an unbelievable time in Chicago.”
His bat delivered a different message. Teammates pushed him out of the dugout for a curtain call after his third homer. The moment captured the electricity of the performance and the emotion of the night.
“Once they kind of nudged me, it was a cool moment,” Bellinger said.
Yankees momentum builds
New York has now won five consecutive games heading into the All-Star break. The team has scored five or more runs in 10 straight contests. Their offense is clicking while the rotation has found stability.
Bellinger’s emergence as a consistent threat has transformed the lineup. He’s slashing .285/.340/.498 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs. Those numbers could position him for a strong second half and lucrative free agency if he opts out.
“He’s a winning player,” Boone said. “He does a lot of good things on a baseball field that helps you win.”
The Yankees enter the break with serious momentum. Their combination of offense, pitching, and defense makes them a dangerous team. Bellinger’s resurgence adds another weapon to their championship arsenal.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
