Lombard's mind-bending contortionist moves flummox Rays catcher after WP

NEW YORK – When the Yankees promoted George Lombard Jr. to the big leagues in August, talent evaluators pointed to the rookie shortstop’s background as a soccer standout, noting that he seemed to move in ways others cannot.

They didn’t know how right they were.

Lombard will land on the highlight reels after a terrific slide on a seventh-inning wild pitch on Thursday, stopping short to avoid a tag from Rays catcher Liam Hicks, then slapping his right hand on home plate.

He added his seventh Major League homer an inning later, a go-ahead two-run blast off left-hander Steven Matz in New York's 6-4 win. Lombard reached the second deck in left field, connecting for his fourth homer in 10 games.

But the jaw-dropper was his evasive slide. The play occurred with Anthony Volpe batting against Tampa Bay’s Brody Hopkins, who uncorked a 99.9 mph fastball that sailed to the backstop. The ball ricocheted to Hicks, who dived glove-first toward Lombard, who slid in feet first before hopping over the catcher.

Lombard’s deft move to avoid the tag allowed him to score the Yankees’ third run of the evening, ruled safe immediately by home-plate umpire Edwin Jimenez.