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Yankees make franchise history with first-inning home-run barrage
New York Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Watch: Yankees make franchise history with first-inning home-run barrage

It only took Yankees batters three pitches to give New York a 3-0 lead against the Brewers on Saturday.

The Yankees hit back-to-back-to-back home runs off of Brewers starting pitcher Nestor Cortes on the first three pitches in the bottom of the first inning.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, batting lead-off after hitting fourth in the order on Opening Day, blasted a four-seam fastball to left centerfield to give New York a lead-off home run in consecutive games.

Catcher Austin Wells became the first catcher in MLB history with a lead-off Opening Day home run in the Yankees’ 4-2 win on Thursday.

Goldschmidt was quickly followed by left fielder Cody Bellinger, who drilled a shot to right center. Right fielder Aaron Judge, batting third, completed the consecutive home-run barrage by blasting an 88 mph cutter 468 feet to left field.

Per the YES broadcast, as one could expect, it was the first time in Yankees history they led the game off with three home runs on three pitches.

Wells added to the historic first inning with a solo blast of his own three batters later, giving New York a 4-0 lead. YES noted it was the first time the Yankees hit four home runs in the first inning in franchise history.

New York (1-0) led the majors in home runs (237) a season ago and looks like it could again this season.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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