Yanks pass '97 M's for single-season HR mark

BOSTON -- On his first day trying on the pinstripes, Giancarlo Stanton memorably remarked that his new teammates would make him "feel sorry for the baseballs." Nine and a half months later, these Yankees stand alone as the most powerful lineup in Major League history.
Gleyber Torres connected for the Bombers' 265th home run in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, establishing a new all-time record for homers in a single season by a club. Stanton extended the record in the seventh inning, and the Yanks have nine remaining innings to add more.
"We've got 266 [baseballs] that are screaming still," Stanton said. "We're all right."
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Torres pumped his right fist as he rounded the bases following the two-run shot, which came off left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez in the fourth inning and landed in the Boston bullpen to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead at the time.
"I feel really good, really happy," Torres said. "It's not just me; all the guys did a really good job. I'm happy for the opportunity to hit the homer."
With the homer, the Yankees surpassed Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner and the rest of the 1997 Mariners (264). New York hit four homers in Friday's series opener to equal Seattle's mark, with blasts slugged by Gary Sánchez, Aaron Hicks, Luke Voit and Aaron Judge.

"I felt like [the record] was possible because those were the first questions I got on the job," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I guess when you look back, the way in which we've done it, the amount of people that you didn't expect to contribute as many home runs as they have, that's been special."

It was a record-breaking afternoon for the Baby Bombers. One inning after Torres' shot, Miguel Andujar drilled a two-run double off Brandon Workman, giving New York a 6-2 lead. Andujar's 45th double of the season surpassed a club record for rookies set by Joe DiMaggio (44) in 1936.
"Just to have my name associated with Joe DiMaggio, it feels good," Andujar said through an interpreter. "I feel good for that. I'm looking forward."
Andujar added another double in the ninth, closing within one of Fred Lynn's American League record for doubles by a rookie (47), set with the 1975 Red Sox. The Major League record is 52, held by Johnny Frederick of the 1929 Brooklyn Dodgers.
"You want to keep on moving to better things," Andujar said. "I want to have a long career. That being said, the work doesn't stop. You've got to keep going. You've got to try to keep getting better."

With the No. 9 hitter Torres going deep, the blast also established the Yankees as the first team in Major League history to notch 20 or more home runs from each spot in the batting order, one through nine.
"All season, we did a really good job," Torres said. "Everybody does something. I'm happy for us and we enjoyed that moment."
Stanton's homer was notable beyond extending the Yankees' mark. As Stanton trotted around second base, he was struck near the right biceps by the ball, which had been thrown back onto the playing field by a fan atop the Green Monster.

The ball clipped Stanton on a bounce, and play briefly halted as the umpires pointed the fan out to Red Sox security. The ball was returned to the visiting dugout, where it was stored for safekeeping just in case Fenway is able to contain the Yanks in Sunday's series finale.
"If I was looking up, I could have grabbed it easily," Stanton said. "It happens all the time at our stadium; here, too. Not too worried about it. Plus, that could be a special ball. We needed it anyway. I think he lost some money on it."