Cody Bellinger made history on Friday night by hitting three home runs for the first time in his career, a performance that powered the New York Yankees to an 11-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium. This remarkable outing, which included driving in six runs, helped extend the Yankees’ winning streak to five games as Bellinger’s display of power electrified the home crowd and overwhelmed the Cubs pitching staff.

Since being acquired from the Cubs during the offseason, Bellinger has steadily become an integral piece of the Yankees’ lineup. His three-homer game marked a rare achievement, becoming the 40th player in Yankees’ regular-season history to hit three home runs in one game and the 29th member of the franchise to reach this milestone. Each of Bellinger’s homers came with a runner on base, maximizing their impact and setting the tone for the rout.

Details of Bellinger’s Home Runs and Rodon’s Stellar Start

Bellinger opened his powerful assault in the third inning against Chicago’s starter Chris Flexen, sending the ball deep with a man aboard. He repeated his feat in the fifth inning off reliever Caleb Thielbar, then capped off his historic night with a blast in the eighth inning against Jordan Wicks, once again driving in a run. These key hits not only padded his RBI total but also demoralized the Cubs across multiple pitching changes.

Complementing Bellinger’s offense, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon delivered a dominant pitching performance. Rodon, now holding a 10-6 record, allowed just four hits over eight innings without surrendering a run. This outing marked the first time a Yankees pitcher had completed eight innings since Gerrit Cole’s two-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins in April 2023. Rodon’s control and efficiency kept the Cubs’ offense at bay and enabled the Yankees to build a commanding lead.

Other Major League Games Highlight Friday’s Action

Outside of New York, the Mariners handed the Detroit Tigers a 12-3 defeat, propelled by Cal Raleigh’s league-leading two home runs, including a grand slam. Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez contributed a two-run homer, while Luis Castillo earned the win pitching over five innings. Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, despite his first loss since April 2, reached the milestone of 800 career strikeouts.

In San Francisco, the Giants edged the Dodgers 8-7 in an intense game where Willy Adames produced three RBIs with a triple and a home run. Dominic Smith added a solo homer, and Jung Hoo Lee also contributed three RBIs. The Dodgers, struggling through their seventh straight loss, saw Shohei Ohtani hit his 32nd home run of the season.

Milwaukee continued its surge with an 8-3 win against the Nationals. Christian Yelich’s two-run homer initiated a six-run third inning that put the game out of reach. Brewers opener DL Hall pitched three solid innings before Quinn Priester struck out five batters over six innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays secured a narrow 7-6 win over the Athletics, behind clutch hitting from Alejandro Kirk and Nathan Lukes during a six-run fifth inning. Max Scherzer earned his first win of the season, striking out eight in five innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. notched his 1,000th career hit during the game.

Highlights from Other Standout Performances Across the League

The Cleveland Guardians overcame the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader, powered by Carlos Santana’s go-ahead two-run home run and solid pitching from Logan Allen. However, the White Sox bounced back to win the second game 5-4 in 11 innings, sparked by Lenyn Sosa’s two homers and Mike Tauchman’s game-ending infield single.

In Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Diamondbacks, with Travis d’Arnaud driving in the winning run in the ninth inning. Randal Grichuk had a strong showing for Arizona with two home runs and three RBIs, but the team suffered its seventh loss in the past 10 games.

The San Diego Padres beat Philadelphia 4-2 behind a Manny Machado home run and a bullpen that delivered more than four scoreless innings. Phillies starter Ranger Suarez took the loss despite pitching effectively into the seventh inning.

New York Mets powered past the Kansas City Royals 8-3, with Mark Vientos hitting a go-ahead three-run double, while Francisco Lindor added a three-run homer in the ninth. Mets starter Kodai Senga returned from injury to pitch four shutout innings, striking out four.

The Atlanta Braves eked out a 6-5 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals thanks to Sean Murphy’s two homers and three RBIs. Despite early struggles by Atlanta starter Grant Holmes, the bullpen shut down the Cardinals for the final six innings.

Baltimore Orioles’ Dean Kremer pitched seven shutout innings to secure his eighth win, as the Orioles beat the Miami Marlins 5-2. Jordan Westburg and Ramon Laureano both had three hits, contributing significantly to Baltimore’s offense.

The Cincinnati Reds narrowly defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on a tiebreaking wild pitch in the eighth inning. The Rockies, who are on pace to set a modern record for most losses in a season, showed some fight with a two-run homer from Ryan McMahon earlier in the game.

Boston Red Sox capped a thrilling 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays with a walk-off two-run home run by Ceddanne Rafaela in the ninth inning. The Red Sox had struggled to score earlier but rallied in dramatic fashion to clinch the victory.

Minnesota Twins won 2-1 against Pittsburgh, with Trevor Larnach’s two-run homer proving decisive. The Twins’ bullpen preserved the lead as Joe Ryan pitched solidly.

Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 7-3, with Adolis Garcia and Wyatt Langford each hitting home runs. Jack Leiter provided strong pitching for the Rangers over 5 1/3 innings despite giving up a few runs.

Significance of Bellinger’s Performance and Upcoming Prospects for the Yankees

Cody Bellinger’s three-home–run game not only showcases his rising impact with the Yankees but also demonstrates the potent offensive force the team is harnessing as they push through the season. His ability to deliver power hits with runners on base underscores his value in high-leverage situations. Alongside the consistent excellence of Carlos Rodon on the mound, the Yankees have assembled a blend of powerful hitting and durable starting pitching that could prove critical as playoff contention intensifies.

The Yankees’ dominant win over the Cubs serves as a strong statement of intent, signaling their potential to maintain momentum through the remainder of the season. With a five-game winning streak now in place, the team will look to build on this confidence and consistency as they face tough opponents ahead. Bellinger’s historic performance may well become a defining moment for both the player and the franchise as the postseason approaches.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What surgery did Cody Bellinger have?

A. Cody Bellinger had an operation to fix his dislocated right shoulder. Dr. Neal ElAttrache did the surgery in Los Angeles. Recovery and rehabilitation will take about 10 weeks. This should allow him to be ready for Spring Training.

Q. Why does Cody Bellinger wear 35?

A. For his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cody wore the number 35 jersey. When he joined the Cubs, he changed to number 24 for two seasons. Now that he is with the Yankees, Bellinger Jr. is going back to wearing a number that is very important to him.