The New York Yankees just went on a home run spree against the Tampa Bay Rays.
After a nine-home-run onslaught on Tuesday night in Tampa, the Yankees launched five more bombs during Wednesday’s 6-4 victory, tying a major league mark for most home runs in a two-game series with 14.
Outfielder Trent Grisham hit two jacks on Wednesday (including his fifth leadoff homer of 2025), as did catcher Austin Wells. Giancarlo Stanton also went yard as a pinch-hitter in the tenth inning.
On Tuesday, Stanton, Jose Caballero, and Cody Bellinger each tallied a pair of homers.
The Red Sox, of course, are hoping that New York cools off considerably by the time Lucas Giolito steps on the Yankee Stadium mound on Thursday night. A weekend, four-game set between the bitter American League East rivals will do much to determine playoff pictures for both clubs. The Yankees enter the series at the top of the AL wild-card standings, with the Red Sox 1.5 games back in the No. 2 spot.
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There isn’t much breathing room for either team. The Seattle Mariners are just a half-game back of Boston in the No. 3 wild-card position. The Kansas City Royals (2.5 games back) and Cleveland Guardians (3 games back) linger all too close.
While the Red Sox have struggled in recent years against the Yankees in August and September (9-34 record since 2019), Boston is 5-1 against New York this season.
Luis Gil is slated to start for the Yankees on Thursday night against Giolito. Friday is expected to be Brayan Bello against Max Fried, followed by Garrett Crochet vs. Will Warren on Saturday afternoon and Dustin May vs. Carlos Rodón in the final game of the pivotal series on Sunday night.
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The two clubs will face off once more before the end of the season in a three-game series (September 12-14) at Fenway Park.