Yankees slug way to MLB record with 57 HRs in June

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each homered as the Yankees set a major-league record for home runs in the month of June — with a game to go. The Yankees scored all of their runs on those two shots as they completed the three-game sweep of the A’s 5-3 Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees completed a three-game sweep of baseball’s worst team and improved to 56-20, matching the 2001 Mariners and 1998 Yankees for baseball’s best 76-game start since 1930.

The Yankees have already swept nine series. Last year, they swept 12 series all season.

“We’re better, we’re a better team,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s hard to sweep, for us now, for any team we’ve been a part of in the past. I love the hunger in this group and the commitment to just the simplicity of how are we going to win the game today.

The Yankees have hit 57 homers this month, surpassing the 56 hit by the Orioles in 2016 and the Braves in 2019.

Judge tied the previous June record immediately on Wednesday. The slugger hit his major leagueleading 29th home run of the season in the first inning, a two-run drive that went 429 feet to left field.

Judge’s 29 homers tie Mickey Mantle for the most Yankees home runs hit before the All-Star break. Mantle hit 29 prior to the Midsummer Classic in 1956 and 1961.

Pirates 8, Nationals 7: Bryan Reynolds hit a career-high three homers and drove in six runs, leading Pittsburgh at Washington. The Pirates ended a five-game skid.

Reynolds had a two-run homer in the first inning off Paolo Espino and a solo drive in the sixth off Carl Edwards Jr. (2-2).

Astros 2, Mets 0: Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, light-hitting backup catcher Jason Castro lined a two-run homer in the ninth and Houston sent host New York to its first three-game losing streak this season.

Astros left fielder Yordan Álvarez and shortstop Jeremy Peña were hurt when they collided in the eighth while running down Dominic Smith’s popup. Both called for the ball and as Peña caught the pop, and they hit each other in the face with their gloves. Álvarez was removed on a cart, sitting up, and Peña walked back to the dugout during the eight-minute delay.

Verlander (10-3) became the major leagues’ first 10-game winner, striking out six and walking one. The 39-year-old right-hander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has a 2.03 ERA this year in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Royals 2, Rangers 1:

Zach Greinke allowed one run on four hits, helping Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game sweep at home against Texas. Kansas City's Kyle Isbel provided the winning cushion with his second home run in as many games.

Greinke (2-4) made his 500th career start, the 48th pitcher in MLB history to do so and the only active pitcher to reach that milestone. He went six innings, striking out three and walking one.

Brewers 5, Rays 3:

Rowdy Tellez hit two home runs and Milwaukee center fielder Jonathan Davis made a spectacular catch, sending the Brewers to victory at Tampa Bay.

Tellez has five home runs and eight RBI in his past six games. His 15th homer put Milwaukee ahead in the eighth.

Padres 4, Diamondbacks 0:

Mike Clevinger outpitched Madison Bumgarner by throwing one-hit ball for six innings in his longest outing of the year to lead San Diego at Arizona.

Mariners 9, Orioles 3:

Julio Rodríguez hit his 12th home run of the season as part of Seattle’s six-run fourth inning as the host Mariners won their seventh in nine games.

Tigers 3, Giants 2: Eric Haase hit a two-run homer to break a 1-all tie in the sixth inning and Detroit Tigers held on to win at San Francisco.