Cody Bellinger puts on epic three-homer show in Yankees’ shutout win

Seven months ago, the Cubs traded Cody Bellinger to the Yankees in what was essentially a salary dump.

On Friday night, Bellinger dumped on the Cubs.

With the Yankees surging at the doorstep of the All-Star break, Bellinger led the way by crushing a trio of two-run home runs — and coming within inches of a fourth homer before he got robbed — on the way to an 11-0 win over the Cubs on Friday night in The Bronx.

In one of the Yankees’ most complete wins of the year — and their fifth straight — Bellinger received a curtain call after his third homer of the night made it a 10-0 lead in the eighth inning.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) 2-run home run during the fifth inning when the New York Yankees played the Chicago Cubs Friday, July 11, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“That was a cool moment,” said Bellinger, who ended the night batting .285 with an .838 OPS and 16 home runs on the year. “It’s a fun place to play. Show up to the yard and expect to win. … We’re all here for one goal.”

Newly named All-Star Carlos Rodón delivered his best start as a Yankee, smothering the majors’ highest-scoring offense across eight shutout innings, while Aaron Judge made three highlight-reel catches — two on back-to-back plays in the fourth inning — to help keep the shutout intact.

But the night belonged to Bellinger, who only cost the Yankees depth starter Cody Poteet and taking on the two years and $47.5 million left on his contract (which he is likely to opt out of after this season).

Cody Bellinger answers a curtain call during the Yankees’ July 11 win. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) 2-run home run during the fifth inning when the New York Yankees played the Chicago Cubs Friday, July 11, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

He insisted this was not a revenge game, because he enjoyed his two years with the Cubs and had good relationships with them, spending early Friday afternoon catching up with many of them on the field.

Once the lights turned on, though, Bellinger went to work.

He swatted a two-run homer off Chris Flexen in the third inning to make it 3-0, another in the fifth off lefty Caleb Thielbar to make it 5-0 and then a third in the eighth inning off lefty Jordan Wicks — just beyond the reach of a leaping Pete Crow-Armstrong in right-center field — to cap off a monster night.

It was nearly even more spectacular, as Bellinger drilled a fly ball to right field in the seventh inning, only for Kyle Tucker to make a leaping grab at the wall to rob him of a solo homer.

“I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger said with a grin. “Boys were giving me a hard time after [Tucker] robbed it. [Aaron Boone] was giving me a hard time. So my next at-bat, not trying to do too much. I’m glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it.”

It was Judge, though, who had the best defensive gems of the night.

Carlos Rodón after Aaron Judge records the final out of the eighth inning during the Yankees’ July 11 win. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Carlos Rodón throws a pitch during the Yankees’ July 11 win. Jason Szenes for the NY Post

With one out in the fourth inning, Crow-Armstrong sent a fly ball to the wall in right that a jumping Judge used all of his 6-foot-7 frame to pull down.

The very next batter, Dansby Swanson hit a sinking liner to right that Judge charged and made a diving catch on.

Looking on from the mound, Rodón shook his head and threw up his hands in disbelief.

“Like, what are we doing, man?” Rodón said. “I’m used to you hitting homers and you’re diving all over the place making plays for me. He was spectacular tonight. He saved me. He helped me get through eight, for sure.”

Rodón had retired 16 straight entering the eighth inning before putting runners on the corners with two outs.

Boone visited the mound, but kept Rodón in the game to the delight of the sellout crowd of 46,327.

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Tucker then hit a fly ball down the right field line that Judge ran down and dove onto the dirt to snag to end the threat.

“It’s tough, but it’s my job,” Judge said.

Judge and Rodón both made postgame pleas for Bellinger to join them in Atlanta for the All-Star Game, which would only be possible if an injury replacement is needed.

The outfielder is in the midst of a career-high 16-game hitting streak, and it was his terrific catch and double play on Sunday at Citi Field that sparked the Yankees — who at that point had lost six straight — into this five-game winning streak.

Perhaps that was all baked into the curtain call that he reluctantly took after his third home run, with some nudging from Boone and Judge as the “Bellinger” chants got louder.

“Happy for him. What a performance,” Boone said. “I think Belli’s loved being here and loved playing here in a meaningful place to him, going back to his childhood [with his dad Clay playing here from 1999-2001]. But obviously fresh off against your old team, too. I know that’s always a weird feeling and you certainly want to perform. And he did.”