Most runs scored in an inning: Where Yankees' outburst vs. Athletics ranks on all-time list originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Yankees put forth a dazzling offensive display against the Athletics on Sunday afternoon. They didn't need to leave the park to do so.
New York's bats were alive as it raced to a 13-8 win over its AL West foe on Sunday. The Yankees finished the game with 11 hits and 13 runs, turning a three-run deficit into a 10-run gulf en route to their 36th victory of the year. All 11 of New York's hits and 13 of New York's runs came in the third, making for one of the highest-scoring innings in big league history.
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Most runs scored in an inning
While the Yankees' outburst proved noteworthy, it didn't quite capture the title of highest-scoring inning in MLB history. That accolade belongs to the Chicago White Stockings, who clubbed 18 runs in the seventh inning of their 26-6 win over the Detroit Wolverines on Sept. 6, 1883.
The Red Sox hold the record for runs scored in a single frame in MLB's modern era (since 1901), recording 17 in the seventh inning of their June 18, 1953 win over the Tigers.
Boston turned a humble two-run advantage into a 19-run gulf during the bottom half of the seventh inning. There were 11 singles, five walks, two doubles and a three-run homer by Dick Garnert in the frame. Rookie Gene Stephens recorded the modern-day record for most hits in a single inning, collecting three on his own.
New York fell just short of the 14 runs the Diamondbacks poured on the Rockies during the third inning of their Opening Day tilt in 2024.
Inside the Yankees’ third-inning outburst vs. Athletics
New York put up runs in bunches in its clash against the A’s. No frame encapsulated that quite like the third.
The Pinstripers collected 13 runs on 11 hits during the third inning. Surprisingly, none of those efforts left the yard. Much like Boston did on that fateful June day in 1953, the Yankees' explosive third inning was powered largely by singles hitting. Ben Rice led the way for the Yanks, tallying two extra base hits (one double, one triple) to plate four.
With their rally, the Yankees became the first side to hit for 13 runs in a single inning in 21 years. All told, New York sent 18 batters to the plate and faced 75 pitches. The frame proved the Yankees' most prolific since they posted a 13-spot in the eighth against the Rays on June 21, 2005.
The Yankees scored THIRTEEN runs in one inning, coming one run short of tying their franchise record pic.twitter.com/62aonBy81e
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 31, 2026
Twelve straight New York batters reached base to start the inning, marking the first time that has taken place since 2008. Eight of nine Yankees batters had hits, with the lone exception being Austin Wells. He still fared brightly, taking to first after recording back-to-back walks.