BRONX, N.Y. — The New York Yankees delivered a masterclass performance Friday night. They dismantled the Chicago Cubs 11-0 at Yankee Stadium in a game that showcased their championship potential.
Cody Bellinger torched his former team with three home runs. Aaron Judge dazzled with spectacular defense. Carlos Rodon dominated on the mound for eight shutout innings.
The victory extended the Yankees’ winning streak to five games. They head into the All-Star break with serious momentum after one of their most impressive showings this season.
Bellinger torches former club
The Cubs traded Bellinger to the Yankees seven months ago in what critics called a salary dump. Friday night proved costly for Chicago’s decision.
Bellinger launched three two-run homers against his old teammates. He nearly added a fourth before Kyle Tucker‘s leaping catch at the wall denied him.
“I knew I didn’t have one,” Bellinger said. “The boys were giving me a hard time after he robbed it. [Aaron Boone] was giving me a hard time.”
The Yankees slugger’s hot streak reached 16 games, setting a new career high. His six RBIs matched his personal best. His final blast in the eighth inning barely cleared the right-center wall as Pete Crow-Armstrong tried to make the catch.
Bellinger became the third Yankees star this season with a three-homer game. He joined Judge and Jasson Domínguez in that exclusive club. The feat marks the first time in the Yankees history three different players have achieved three-homer games in one season.
Judge backs up with Gold Glove show
While Bellinger dominated at the plate, Aaron Judge stole the show with his glove work in right field.
The Yankees captain’s defensive clinic began in the fourth inning. He robbed Crow-Armstrong of a potential homer with a leaping catch at the wall. Judge immediately followed with a diving snag on Dansby Swanson’s liner.
“I’ve got a job to do out there. That’s why they got me playing out there,” Judge said. “So doesn’t matter how tough it is.”
Judge saved his best for last. In the eighth inning, Tucker sliced a fly ball toward the foul line with runners at the corners and two outs. The Yankees captain raced over and made a full-extension dive to preserve the shutout.
“When that last one came up, I was like, ‘I’ve got to run through this wall — I’ve got to make this catch for him,'” Judge said.
Rodon proves All-Star call right
Carlos Rodon learned about his All-Star selection hours before the first pitch. He responded with his most dominant performance of 2025.
The Yankees left-hander silenced a Cubs offense that entered Friday leading MLB in scoring at 5.41 runs per game. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters across eight innings.
Rodón’s ERA dropped to 3.08 as he continued establishing himself as the Yankees’ co-ace. He retired 16 consecutive batters at one point before facing trouble in the eighth.
Manager Aaron Boone visited the mound but allowed his southpaw to finish the frame. Judge’s diving catch ensured Rodón departed with a pristine line.
“He’s making his push to be an All-Star,” Rodón said of Bellinger. “In my book, he is.”
Yankees offense clicks at all levels
Bellinger wasn’t the only Yankee producing at the plate. The lineup collected 15 hits with multiple players contributing.
Paul Goldschmidt, Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice, and Oswald Peraza all recorded multi-hit games. Judge reached base twice via walks, continuing his patient approach.
The Yankees have now scored five or more runs in 10 straight games. The streak matches a franchise-best stretch from 2005.
New York has gone 5-0 since ending a six-game losing streak at Citi Field. A defensive play by Bellinger in that series may have sparked their turnaround.
“It feels like summertime now in the Bronx, and it’s Friday night and the Cubs are in town,” Boone said. “There’s a buzz in the ballpark, and I think guys can feel that.”
First curtain call creates special moment
The evening’s emotional peak came in the eighth inning. Yankee Stadium erupted with “Bellinger” chants after his third homer.
Yankees players nudged the 29-year-old out of the dugout for his first curtain call in pinstripes. The moment capped a special night for the former Cub.
“Once they kind of nudged me, that was a cool moment,” Bellinger said.
Bellinger insisted revenge wasn’t his motivation. He shared pregame hugs with former teammates and coaches. But once the game began, he flipped the script completely.
“No revenge,” he said. “Ultimately, it was fun to be out there. I saw a bunch of guys I hadn’t seen in a while and I shared a bunch of good memories with them.”
Trade deadline implications loom
Scott Effross closed out the ninth inning, working around a leadoff double to complete the shutout. The commanding victory highlighted the Yankees’ potential as the trade deadline approached.
General Manager Brian Cashman’s shopping list remains extensive. The team needs bullpen help, another starter, and possibly a bench bat.
Friday’s performance offered a preview of what this roster can accomplish when everything clicks. With Bellinger finding his groove and Rodon pitching like an ace, the Yankees might not just be buyers at the deadline.
They could become a serious problem for the rest of baseball.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
