Yankees Make History with Unique Scoring Feat

The New York Yankees achieved an unusual victory against the Athletics on May 31 in West Sacramento. They became the first team to score 13 runs in a single inning while failing to score in the other innings.

During this historic game, the Yankees didn’t record any hits outside of the third inning. Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe epitomized the unique experience, batting twice within the high-scoring inning. He stood in the on-deck circle when the inning concluded with a flyout by Trent Grisham. “It was crazy,” Volpe remarked. “It felt like I would run the bases, then I would get up, and I would have to put my stuff back on. So it was a cool feeling.”

This inning saw 18 Yankees players bat against three Athletics pitchers. The feat marked a rare occurrence as, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other teams have achieved such a scoreline. The Philadelphia Phillies did it on April 13, 2003, and the Atlanta Braves accomplished it on September 20, 1972.

Although relievers Jack Perkins, Mark Leiter, Jr., Luis Medina, and José Suarez completed the remaining innings with commendable effort, the game’s outcome was already decided before Perkins took over in the third inning. Since MLB expanded to more than 16 teams in 1961, no team had scored 13 runs in one inning alone while not hitting in others, per Elias.

Another remarkable record was set during the third inning. The first 12 Yankees batters reached base safely, matching a record for most consecutive batters reaching safely to start an inning in the expansion era.

Not even the legendary 1927 Yankees lineup, featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, ever accomplished a 13-run inning. The Yankees’ franchise record remains 14 runs in an inning, set on July 6, 1920, against the Washington Senators. Despite this historical backdrop, the modern Yankees showcased their best performance in the third inning of this game.