BREWERS SINK BOMBERS IN 11
While the Yankees had the long ball going for them on Friday night in Milwaukee, so did the Brewers, who beat the Yanks, 7-6, in 11 innings.
Joey Ortiz and Blake Perkins both homered off Luis Gil, who allowed five earned runs over five innings. The right-hander also struck out six, walked two and surrendered six hits over 97 pitches.
While both teams benefited from home runs, the Yankees took the lead in the 10th when Giancarlo Stanton smoked a pinch-hit, RBI double. The designated hitter had enjoyed little success as a pinch-hitter prior to that, going just 3-for-42 in his career.
However, the Yankees’ good luck ended there, as new reliever Michael Tonkin couldn’t hold the Brewers down after Jose Trevino was charged with a wild pitch to start the bottom of the 10th. That gave Milwaukee a runner on third before Willy Adames tied the game with a single.
A failed attempt to score on contact kept the Yankees off the board in the 11th, as Jahmai Jones raced home when Alex Verdugo bounced a ball back to the mound. Jones was easily thrown out at the plate. The Brewers then ended the extra-inning game in the bottom of the frame when Ortiz singled off Tonkin.
JASSON CLOSING IN
Nothing is imminent, but The Martian is getting closer to game action.
Aaron Boone said Jasson Domínguez, recovering from UCL surgery, is now throwing from 135 feet, according to NJ.com’s Max Goodman. He’s also been taking batting practice.
Boone added that Domínguez is “a few weeks” away from getting in games, though the manager stressed that the outfielder does not have an exact timeline.
The Yankees have said from the getgo that they expect their top prospect to return sometime this summer, but they haven’t been more specific than that. There’s also no guarantee that Domínguez goes straight back to the majors once he completes a rehab assignment.
While he flashed tremendous potential last September, hitting four home runs in eight games before getting hurt, Domínguez is far from a finished product at 21 years of age. Meanwhile, the Yankees have three outfielders entrenched in starting roles right now: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Verdugo.
Soto hit his team-leading seventh home run in Friday’s loss, while Verdugo added his third long ball of the year. Both were solo shots, while backup outfielder Trent Grisham belted a three-run dinger for his first home run as a Yankee.
Because of the crowded outfield, Domínguez’s age, and the fact that he has minor-league options, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Yankees send him to Triple-A once he’s cleared. He would be an offensive upgrade over Grisham and Taylor Trammell, another backup, but Domínguez is still developing and would be better off getting everyday at-bats in the minors, especially after a long absence.
Of course, these things often have a way of working themselves out. The Yankees’ outfield picture could look completely different by the time Domínguez can be activated.