NEW YORK -- Trent Grisham has gone unrewarded for hard contact early this season, an unlucky streak the Yankees believed would eventually correct itself. His big sixth-inning hit on Thursday afternoon could be the turning point they’ve been waiting for.
Grisham belted a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center field, highlighting a six-run outburst as the Yankees rallied to wrap their strong homestand with a 9-2 victory over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
“He has had the worst luck,” said infielder Ryan McMahon. “The guy is squaring up the ball. He’s super steady, though. He comes to the ballpark every single day with a good attitude and just knows that’s part of the game. It’s obviously good to see him find some grass.”
The Yanks’ sixth win in their last seven games -- and their 16th in 19 games -- was tinged by concern for Jasson Domínguez, who was carted off the field after colliding with the left-field wall while making an excellent first-inning play.
Domínguez robbed Brandon Nimmo of an extra-base hit with a lunging grab. The team said Domínguez was placed into concussion protocol and will be placed on the injured list after an MRI revealed a low-grade strain to the outfielder’s left AC joint.
Spencer Jones will be promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, set to make his Major League debut during the club’s upcoming series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
“Spencer’s playing really well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He got off to an OK start, then hit a little snag there for about a week or so. I feel like the last three or four weeks have been a lot of consistent at-bats. The power has been there, and less swing and miss.”
J.C. Escarra, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger also stroked run-scoring hits in the sixth inning, beating up on the Texas bullpen after Grisham’s knock chased left-hander MacKenzie Gore.
Held to a run through five innings, the Yanks took advantage after two walks and a bloop single opened the door in the sixth.
“The depth is what makes us a really good team,” Bellinger said. “We’ve got a lot of players that can do a lot of different things on a baseball field. Today was just a great example of that.”
There is statistical evidence to back up the team’s assertion that Grisham has been extraordinarily unlucky. MLB.com’s Mike Petriello notes that only five players have larger gaps between their batting averages and expected batting averages (xBA) this season than Grisham’s 73 points.
Additionally, only five players have larger gaps between their wOBA and xwOBA than Grisham’s 68 points.
“That is an actual thing,” Boone said. “He has been incredibly unlucky, because I feel like he’s hitting the ball off the barrel a couple of times a game and not being rewarded. The hit of the game was the bases-clearing double, so it’s good to see him get some results.”
Paul Blackburn drew the spot start in place of Ryan Weathers, who was scratched due to illness. Brendan Beck permitted two runs over three-plus innings, making his Major League debut as a bulk reliever after being promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the day.
Former Yankees farmhand Ezequiel Duran hit a third-inning homer off Beck, who was optioned back to the Minors after the game.
“He held his own out there and gave us a chance to win,” Boone said. “He made enough big pitches when he had to. We felt like, if he could get us to the middle of the game, we were set up pretty good from there. And he did that.”
Despite the short notice and the early afternoon start time, Beck had an enthusiastic cheering section on hand -- dressed for the occasion in uniforms bearing his name and No. 89.
Beck said his wife, Reilly, traveled from Scranton, Pa., while his parents caught a red-eye flight from California. Beck’s brother, Tristan, is a pitcher for Triple-A Sacramento in the Giants system -- he was on hand, too, granted the day off by the organization.
“It was really special,” Beck said. “It’s a dream come true. You always want it to happen and think it’s going to happen, but it actually does -- it’s still a dream, but now it’s something I’ve done. I can picture that moment, being out there on the field with the guys. I can take that back and now really get to work.”