KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Yankees skipper Aaron Boone observed the hits accumulating on Kauffman Stadium’s distinctive crown-shaped scoreboard in center field, he recognized his team was delivering an exceptional performance against Kansas City.
What he didn’t realize until later was that they were making franchise history.
The Yankees launched six home runs, with Amed Rosario contributing two, and collected 24 hits during their 15-1 demolition — their highest hit total since facing Baltimore in July 2011. However, what distinguished Tuesday night’s offensive showcase from every other game in Yankees history — surpassing even contests featuring legendary players like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle — was this remarkable achievement: Every single starter recorded multiple hits for the first time ever.
“I did see all the hits on the board,” Boone said afterward, “and I was like, ‘Man, you don’t see that very often.’”
The Yankees benefited from facing Kansas City during a bullpen game. Struggling pitcher Bailey Falter took the mound first, surrendering seven hits while recording just seven outs. Luinder Avila provided little improvement as his replacement.
The final hits came against outfielder Tyler Tolbert, who delivered a consistent stream of 44 mph tosses to complete the ninth inning.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t diminish what ranks among the most remarkable offensive displays in Yankees history. Their hit total matched their eighth-highest ever, while the 24 hits represented their most productive road performance since August 31, 1974, against Chicago.
The six home runs marked the season high for any major league team.
“The performance they put up today,” Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler said, “that was awesome to watch.”
The offensive onslaught started with Cody Bellinger’s second consecutive day with a homer, a two-out blast in the opening frame. The attack intensified following Paul Goldschmidt’s double, when Ben Rice lined a sinking hit toward right field that Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone casually fielded at ground level. Boone contested the out ruling, and replay review revealed the ball had hit the turf for an RBI single.
Rosario stepped up next and launched a two-run blast approximately 420 feet to left field.
Anthony Volpe contributed his season’s first homer in the second frame, while the Yankees added four more runs through consecutive singles in the third. Aaron Judge delivered an RBI double during the fifth, Trent Grisham connected in the seventh, Jazz Chisholm Jr. — the final starter to reach two hits — homered in the eighth, and Rosario added his second blast in the ninth.
He admitted with embarrassment that he was simply attempting to avoid striking out against Tolbert’s slow-motion offerings.
“It feels good to be part of history,” Rosario said through a translator. “It’s a team effort and being part of it is great.”
The Yankees have now launched 82 home runs this season, leading all major league teams by a wide margin. Kansas City, in contrast, has hit 51, including Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo shot in the third inning that provided their lone run.
The 24 hits Kansas City surrendered represented the fourth-most in franchise history. Rosario collected four hits while Grisham, Rice, Volpe and Austin Wells each recorded three. Every remaining starter contributed exactly two hits.
“Look,” Boone said with a smile, “as hard as hitting is — as hard as it is now, night-in and night-out — to have a day where everyone, you know, can fatten up a little bit, it’s good.”
