Cody Bellinger Goes 4-for-4 With Two Homers and the Yankees' Bats Are on Another Level

The New York Yankees are absolutely rolling right now, and if you've been paying attention to what's happening in the Bronx, you know exactly why. Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger are swinging hot lumber alongside Aaron Judge, and this duo just dismantled the Baltimore Orioles in the first two games of their series. The Yankees are 12-2 over their last 14 games, and they're bringing the noise when it matters most.

Bellinger's Saturday Was Straight Ridiculous

Let's talk about what Cody Bellinger did Saturday because it was the kind of performance that sticks with you. He went 4-for-4 with two solo homers and four RBIs in the Yankees' 9-4 victory. That's his second multi-homer game this season and his ninth career four-hit game. The guy is 8-for-16 over his past four games, and you can feel the confidence radiating off him. "I love where we're at as a team," Bellinger said after the win. "I'm just excited to be part of it. We like where we're at, all of us and you want to keep rolling." Manager Aaron Boone wasn't shy about praising his versatile outfielder either: "That's Cody Bellinger, just an all-around player, we see the speed, the athleticism, the power. Just a great day by a great player."

Rice and the Yankees' Offensive Explosion

Ben Rice is doing his damage too. He hit a three-run homer in Friday's 7-2 series-opening win and reached base three times Saturday. Rice has now reached base at least three times in 10 games this season, which tells you he's finding ways to get on base consistently. Through the first two games against Baltimore, the Yankees collected 22 hits, drew 13 walks, and went 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position. They've outscored the Orioles 16-6 in those two games alone.

Baltimore's Got Problems and They Know It

The Orioles are struggling big time. They're on a three-game losing streak and have been outscored 27-11 since they hit a pair of grand slams in a 10-3 win over Houston on Thursday. Baltimore has managed just seven hits in the series and 13 hits over the past three games while striking out 34 times in that span. Pete Alonso homered for the second straight game Saturday and has three homers in his past five games, but that's about the only bright spot. Manager Craig Albernaz took some responsibility: "I'm not concerned. It's more on my end. It's more frustrating because that group in there is really talented, and I feel like we should not be three games below .500. That's on me."

What's Coming Sunday

Max Fried takes the mound for New York, coming off consecutive scoreless outings. The lefty has tossed 14 scoreless innings in wins at Boston and Texas in his past two starts and is 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA. His 47 and one-third innings are tied for the MLB lead. Baltimore will counter with Trey Gibson making his major league debut. The 23-year-old right-hander is a converted prospect who was originally slated to pitch for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday before getting called up. "He put a lot of work in throughout his whole life to get to this point, and he has great stuff," Albernaz said. "I want him to trust his stuff."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.