
So close yet so far: players out of reach for the All Blacks shine in Super Rugby
Super Rugby players like Fehi Fineanganofo excel but can't join All Blacks due to overseas contracts.

Cody Bellinger hit two home runs in the Yankees' 9-4 victory over the Orioles, marking his second two-homer game of the season. He also went 4 for 4 at the plate, contributing significantly to the win.
NEW YORK — Ever since hitting two home runs against the Kansas City Royals on April 18, Cody Bellinger had been in a bit of a funk.
That power surge preceded a 10-game stretch in which the Yankees’ outfielder hit .171 with zero dingers and a .521 OPS. But Bellinger snapped out of it Friday, ripping two doubles in the Yankees’ win over the Baltimore Orioles. And on Saturday, he broke out, recording his second two-homer game of the season in a 9-4 win over Baltimore.
Bellinger started the scoring in the series-securing victory, pulling a solo shot off Kyle Bradish in the second inning. Another bases-empty blast followed in the fifth with Keegan Akin on the mound.
“I was feeling good pregame. Tough guy on the mound,” Bellinger said, referring to Bradish. “He’s got really good stuff. So really, honestly, I wasn’t trying to do too much all day today and got a few pitches to hit that I didn’t miss.”
All in all, Bellinger went 4 for 4 on Saturday, adding an RBI double off an 0-2 count in the third inning and an RBI single in the seventh. He also swiped his fourth base of the season.
According to Stathead’s Katie Sharp, Bellinger became just the fourth Yankee in the last 35 years with at least four hits, four RBI and one steal in a game. The others are Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter.
“That’s Cody Bellinger,” Aaron Boone said. “You see the speed, the power, the athleticism, the two-strike hitting … Just a great day by a great player.”
With a perfect day at the plate, Bellinger now has five homers and is batting .276 with an .855 OPS. His numbers looked much more pedestrian prior to the matinée, as Bellinger — who returned to the Yankees on an option-heavy, five-year, $162.5 million deal over the offseason — entered the game with a .250 average and a .755 OPS.
“It’s been good,” Bellinger said with his OPS jumping 100 points and the Yankees now 22-11 on the season. “Room for improvement, obviously, and I love where we’re at as a team. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Cody Bellinger hit two home runs in the Yankees' game against the Orioles.
Bellinger went 4 for 4, with two home runs, an RBI double, and an RBI single.
The final score was 9-4 in favor of the Yankees.

Super Rugby players like Fehi Fineanganofo excel but can't join All Blacks due to overseas contracts.
Jose Ortiz triumphs in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, beating brother Irad!
Check out the NHL's TV schedule for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Wings prospect Cossa sits on the bench in AHL playoff opener
Golden State Valkyries waive Marta Suarez following bizarre draft trade
Larissa Pacheco makes a statement with a knockout of Julia Stasiuk at Karate Combat 61!
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Bellinger wasn’t the only re-signed outfielder to homer on Saturday, as Trent Grisham, retained via the qualifying offer, drilled a two-run homer in the fourth frame. He also doubled for the second time in as many days, a feat Grisham had not accomplished since July 2024.
Despite some encouraging quality of contact metrics, Grisham hasn’t gotten many results this season, as he’s still hitting .168 with a .675 OPS after his strong performance against the O’s.
On the mound, the Yankees got another solid start out of Ryan Weathers, who allowed three runs but only one earned over five innings. The lefty also walked five and struck out two as his ERA improved to 3.03.
Weathers, coming off an injury-riddled season with the Marlins, has already surpassed his innings total from a year ago. He’s at 38.2 this season after only totaling 38 1/3 innings in 2025.
____