Jasson Domínguez went 3-for-3, including a pivotal three-run double that gave the New York Yankees the lead in the sixth inning of a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone praised Domínguez’s calm demeanor, saying, “He never seems panicked or rushed, and that’s one of the things you always like about him. You know the situation isn’t too big for him. He got enough of the ball to send it over Biggio’s head, but it was definitely a huge night for J.D.”
Max Fried (3-0) struck out seven batters over 6 2/3 innings, helping the Yankees rally from a 2-0 deficit with a four-run sixth inning, aided by three consecutive two-out walks. The Yankees will look to complete a three-game sweep on Wednesday, in a rematch of last October’s American League Division Series, which they won in four games against the Royals.
The Royals’ MJ Melendez hit a home run, and Bobby Witt Jr. added an RBI double off the right-center field fence in the third inning, but Kansas City fell to 2-6 on the road after losing four of their last five games. The Royals have now lost 19 of their last 20 completed series against the Yankees, including postseason matchups, dating back to May 2015.
Melendez, who had struggled with a .077 batting average and only one extra-base hit this season, broke an 0-for-18 slump by homering into the Yankees’ bullpen to lead off the third inning.
Fried reflected on his pitch to Melendez, saying, “I left it down the middle, similar to what I did to Bobby Witt. When you face aggressive hitters who are good, they make you pay, and sometimes you just tip your cap.”
Luke Weaver retired Maikel Garcia with two runners on to end the seventh, facing four batters and setting them down in order. Devin Williams finished the game with a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the season.
Michael Wacha (0-3) was in control with a four-hit shutout until he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe, loading the bases in the sixth inning. Angel Zerpa then entered but struggled to hear his PitchCom device, walking Austin Wells on four pitches to force in a run.
Domínguez, who had two singles against Wacha from the left side, hit a 1-2 fastball for a double down the left-field line after switching to the right side against Zerpa, knocking his helmet off with the force of his follow-through.
Boone commented on Domínguez’s right-handed swing, saying, “It’s more of an experience thing for him. He hasn’t had much right-handed experience in the minors, but over time that will improve, and I expect him to be productive from that side.”
Volpe also expressed his excitement for Domínguez, saying, “It’s really impressive. I’m proud of him, excited for him, and even more excited for the team because he brings so much to the table. When he does things like that, it’s going to be hard for us to lose.”
In the seventh, defensive replacement Trent Grisham made a fantastic running catch in deep center field with a runner aboard, preventing a potential Royals rally. Volpe joked, “I told him that might be the best play of his career, just because of the circumstances and coming off the bench. But that’s what he does — he brings so much to the table. When he’s in center field, you feel like any ball, no matter how hard it’s hit, is going to be caught.”
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