Cody Bellinger Ends Home Run Drought in Yankees Loss to Astros

New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger snapped a 32-game home run drought with a 102 mph, three-run line drive off Houston Astros pitcher Ethan Pecko on Tuesday, though the Yankees ultimately fell 9-7 following a bullpen collapse.

Bellinger's 367-foot shot into right field in the third inning scoring Trent Grisham and Luis Garcia Jr. erased an early 2-0 deficit and gave New York a brief 3-2 lead.

The 12th home run of the season for Bellinger marked his first long ball since June 17, delivering crucial offensive production while slugger Aaron Judge remained unavailable in the lineup.

New York expanded its lead with two additional runs in the fifth inning and saw further damage from a Luis Garcia Jr. two-run home run alongside a late RBI from Jazz Chisholm.

Bellinger continued his offensive surge on Wednesday by lacing a two-run double off the right-center field wall in the seventh inning to put the Yankees ahead 5-3.

Despite Bellinger entering the series hitting .258 with a .771 OPS and 56 RBI, New York's relief pitching failed to preserve the late-inning leads across the series.