New York Yankees

Bronx Bombers live up to their name by tying franchise home run streak

The New York Yankees equaled a franchise home run record that goes back to 1941 on Saturday in a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros

The suddenly healthy and surging New York Yankees just can’t stop hitting home runs.

Gio Urshela’s two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday night against the Houston Astros gave the Yankees home runs in 25 straight games dating back to May 25. That ties a franchise record first set in 1941, when a lineup led by Joe DiMaggio did it from June 1-29 on their way to a World Series championship. The Yankees are just two games shy of the Major League record of 27, set by the Texas Rangers in 2002.

The Yankees, led by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, were expected to hit home runs this season after setting a Major League record a year ago. What is surprising is that Judge and Stanton haven’t hit any during this streak. Judge returned to the lineup on Friday after being out since April 20, while Stanton has only played seven games this season after missing more than two months with a shoulder strain.

Instead, it’s catcher Gary Sanchez who leads with eight home runs during the streak. DiMaggio paced the club in 1941 with 10 home runs in that run, which coincided with his 56 game hitting streak.

The Yankees were held hitless on Saturday by Astros starter Wade Miley until Urshela’s home run into the short porch in right field. Austin Romine added a solo shot in the seventh inning to tie the game at five before Stanton drove in two runs with a single as the Yankees won 7-5. Stanton’s four RBIs were his first runs driven in of the season. The Yankees have now won eight games in a row and lead the AL East by 5.5 games with a record of 49-27.

The Yankees are on pace to hit 266 home runs this season, one off the record they set last year. In the absence of Judge and Stanton for most of the season, Sanchez leads the team with 23. They also added designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion in a trade from the Seattle Mariners last Saturday. Encarnacion and Sanchez currently lead the American League in home runs, with Encarnacion adding two in his six games since joining the Yankees.

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