Yanks mash 5 more HRs vs. O's, break MLB mark
BALTIMORE -- The Bronx Bombers are doing their best bombing in Baltimore.
In the city where Francis Scott Key penned "The Star-Spangled Banner," the New York Yankeeswent deep five times against the Oriolesin Wednesday's 14-2 win at Camden Yards. That gave them 52 homers against Baltimore and broke the record for most by a team against a single opponent in one major league season.
The record-breaking 49th homer came in the top of the fifth inning, when Gio Urshela sent a 97 mph sinker from reliever Miguel Castro over the left-center-field fence for a two-run shot.
Urshela also homered in the sixth. CatcherKyle Higashiokawent deep in the fourth and ninth innings, and left fielderCameron Maybinlaunched a 436-foot solo blast in the ninth.
Higashioka's fourth-inning homer off starter John Meanstied the MLB record held by the 1956 Yankees, who hit 48 homers against the Kansas City Athletics.The Yankees have 11 players with multihomer games against Baltimore this season, breaking the record of 10 set by San Francisco against the Dodgers in 1958.
"We have guys up and down the lineup who can hit the ball, so it is no surprise to see what we did,'' Higashioka said. "It was nice to be a part of it.''
The Yankees finished 10-0 at Camden Yards. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it's the 14th time in MLB history that a team has gone 10-0 or better on the road against an opponent and the first time since the 2002 Red Sox went 10-0 at the Rays.
They have four games remaining against the Orioles this season, all next week in New York.
"Everyone has a lot of confidence, I think, in one another," manager Aaron Boone said. "That's the sense you get because we've proven throughout the year they can get it done throughout the lineup. Whether it's been the bottom of the order, the middle, the top, it seems like it's come from a lot of different places. They take a lot of pride in making it difficult on the pitchers and passing the baton and they have a lot of confidence in the guys in front of them and behind them."
On Monday, the Yankees set a record by hitting their 32nd home run at Camden this season. That was the highest total by a visiting team at any stadium in one season, breaking the record of 29 held by the 1957 Braves (at Cincinnati's former Crosley Field).
They've only added to it since. Leading the barrage for New York is infielder Gleyber Torres, who has launched 10 of his 23 homers this season against the Birds. Nine of catcher Gary Sanchez's 24 home runs have been at Baltimore's expense, and more than half of outfielder Clint Frazier's 11 dingers (six) have come against the O's.
The Yankees slugged 17 home runs in their three-game sweep of the Orioles, hitting five on Monday and six on Tuesday. According to ESPN Stats & Information, they're the second team in MLB history to hit five or more homers in three straight games, joining the 1977 Red Sox, who did so against the Yankees at Fenway Park.
Going yard against Baltimore is nothing new. Orioles hurlers have surrendered 234 home runs, most in the majors and 34 more than the next-closest club (Seattle). They are on pace to finish the season with 332 homers allowed, which would shatter the record of 258 currently held by the 2016 Cincinnati Reds.
The Yankees have hit 203 home runs this season, second in baseball behind the Minnesota Twins (224).
Overall, MLB home run numbers have spiked this season. Through Tuesday's games, 3.6% of all plate appearances had resulted in a home run, up from 3.0% last season. In 2017, MLB hitters collectively posted a 3.3% home run rate that was the highest in league history.
