NEW YORK -- It’s no secret that the Yankees’ high-powered offense has relied on the long ball. They are fifth in the Majors with 162 home runs -- their highest total through 97 games in club history -- and they have homered in all but 14 games this season, posting a 5-9 record in them.\n\nSaturday marked the 15th time the ball didn’t leave the yard. Perhaps surprisingly, then, the Yankees didn’t seem to need one of their signature Bronx Bombs, managing a double-digit scoreline in an 11-5 win over the Rockies at Yankee Stadium.\n\n• Box score\n\n“We can do it without a homer,” said
\n\nThe Yankees have 11 runs today, but did not hit a HR.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 20, 2019
The last time they scored 10+ runs without a HR was April 28, 2018 in Anaheim, when they beat the Angels 11-1.
A pair of big innings Saturday -- a five-spot in the second and a three-run fourth -- showcased how the Yanks’ scorching offense is anything but one-dimensional. With an excessive heat warning in effect across the city and a heat index of up to 110 degrees, the Yankees chased Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela out of the game after just 1 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs and recorded just four outs.\n\n
Romine produced an RBI single before back-to-back one-out walks loaded the bases for
\n\n“I think we got some breaks in that inning and took advantage of them,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “And to be able to run out a big lead today on a hot day when I think it was a challenge for everyone -- pitchers, hitters -- it was important.”\n\n“I \\[said to myself\\], 'I don’t think we’ve hit a homer today to have that many runs.' It’s just a tribute to guys having quality at-bats up and down the lineup.”\n\nIn the fourth, it was more of the same for the Yanks, as they sought to control the strike zone, working to favorable counts and making at-bats difficult for opposing pitchers. Gregorius and Torres recorded run-scoring singles -- the latter of which scored Luke Voit, who headed to first after taking a pitch to the face. He stayed in the game before exiting for precautionary reasons.
While the Yankees were kept homerless on the day, the Rockies hit a three-run shot courtesy of Nolan Arenado -- part of a five-spot for Colorado off Yanks starter
\n\nStay cool out there \uD83D\uDE0E pic.twitter.com/LKRGoNhsL9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 20, 2019
In their first series after the All-Star break, the Yankees notably hit only one home run in three games. But that turned out to be an anomaly, as their batters knocked 12 long balls, including two grand slams, over their next five games. As Saturday’s victory illustrated, though, there isn’t only one way for the Yanks to win ballgames.\n\n“It’s a really good offense,” said