Cody Bellinger put on a hitting clinic Saturday, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the New York Yankees to a 9-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The win marked the Yankees' 12th in their last 14 games, pushing them to a season-best 22-11 record—11 games over .500.
Bellinger's power display came entirely on sliders. He launched a solo shot in the second inning off Kyle Bradish (1-4) to put New York ahead, then added another solo homer in the fifth against Keegan Akin to extend the lead to 6-1. It was the 21st multi-homer game of his career and his second this season. Not content with just the long balls, Bellinger also delivered an RBI double during a two-run third inning and tacked on a run-scoring single in the seventh.
He wasn't the only Yankee providing fireworks. Trent Grisham crushed a two-run homer in the fourth, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a run-scoring single in the seventh to keep the offense rolling. The lineup's depth has been a key factor in this hot streak, with contributions coming from up and down the order.
On the mound, Ryan Weathers (2-2) turned in a gritty performance, allowing three runs—only one earned—on three hits and two walks over five-plus innings. With Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole working their way back from injuries, Weathers is making a strong case to stay in the rotation. Yankees starters continue to lead the majors with a stellar 2.62 ERA.
The Orioles, meanwhile, dropped their third straight game and fell to 0-7 against left-handed starters this season. Peter Alonso provided a bright spot for Baltimore, homering for the second consecutive day in his first trip back to New York since leaving the Mets. The blast was his sixth of the season and fourth in the last nine games.
One of the more intriguing moments came on Bellinger's first home run—a 363-foot drive that barely cleared the right-field short porch. According to MLB Statcast, it wouldn't have been a homer in any other big league ballpark. Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good, though Bellinger's performance was all skill.
In other Yankees news, Jasson Domínguez returned to the lineup for the first time since being hit on the left elbow by a pitch Wednesday, going 1-for-4. Giancarlo Stanton also provided an encouraging update, taking swings in an indoor cage Friday for the first time since straining his right calf on April 23.
The series wraps up Sunday with a compelling pitching matchup: Yankees left-hander Max Fried (4-1, 2.09 ERA) takes the mound against Orioles right-hander Trey Gibson, a 23-year-old making his major league debut after posting a 4.01 ERA in six starts at Triple-A Norfolk.