NEW YORK – When the Yankees promoted George Lombard Jr. to the big leagues in August, talent evaluators pointed to the rookie’s background as a soccer standout, noting that he seemed to move in ways others simply don’t.
They didn’t know how right they were.
Lombard landed on the highlight reels after a terrific slide on a seventh-inning wild pitch in Thursday’s 6-4 win over the Rays, stopping short to avoid a tag from catcher Liam Hicks before slapping his right hand on home plate.
“I think that’s my first time ever doing that one in a game,” Lombard said. “I was in trouble, had to figure something out, and it just kind of happened.”
Lombard added his seventh Major League homer an inning later, a go-ahead two-run blast off left-hander Steven Matz. Lombard reached the second deck in left field, connecting for his fourth homer in 10 games.
At 21 years and 114 days, Lombard is the second-youngest player in Yankees history to hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The youngest was Mickey Mantle on July 29, 1952 (20 years, 283 days) – a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth.
“He’s got power. He’s a strong kid,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The ball he hit to left field [in the seventh inning] was absolutely scalded, and then a no-doubter on the home run. It’s really good to see that.”
Preparing to play in his first postseason, Lombard is finding his stride at the right time, slashing .310/.326/.643 (13-for-42) since Sept. 14.
“We all know he’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Boone said. “He’s a really good player, and he knows that. He plays with that level of confidence, so we have a ton of confidence in him. It’s certainly good to see him get some really big results here these last couple of days, especially offensively.”
But the moment everyone was talking about came on the basepaths. It occurred with Anthony Volpe batting against Brody Hopkins, whose 99.9 mph fastball sailed to the backstop.
The ball ricocheted to Hicks, who dived with his glove outstretched toward Lombard, who slid in feet first before hopping over the catcher.
“My first thought on the ricochet was, ‘Oh, no,’” Boone said. “Then it was just a really good athletic play by the old soccer player.”
Lombard’s deft move to avoid the tag allowed him to score the Yankees’ third run of the evening, with home-plate umpire Edwin Jimenez immediately signaling safe.
“It’s probably a play that I’ve seen and wanted to do before,” Lombard said. “When the fielder’s diving to tag you, he probably has the head start. You do something else.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash said there was “not really” anything Hicks could have done differently.
“These guys in today’s game are so athletic. That was impressive,” Cash said.
Hicks agreed, adding, “I saw him sliding, so I went to slide to get the plate. He just made a good move. Once you're on your stomach blocking the plate, there's really nothing I could have done. Credit to him for making that play.”