In September 2023, as the New York Yankees were finishing a lost season, Jasson Dominguez gave them a brief set of highlights with his power before getting hurt.
After missing most of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, Dominguez is taking advantage of a full chance to establish himself as a major-leaguer.
The switch-hitting left fielder, coming off his biggest moment, will try to help New York complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon, although the weather could be a problem.
If the projected rainy forecast does not cause a postponement, the Yankees will pursue their 11th win in 14 games. New York followed up its 5-2 victory in the series opener on Monday with a 4-3 comeback win on Wednesday in frigid conditions.
Dominguez capped the rally by hitting a game-ending solo homer off Texas closer Luke Jackson with one out in the ninth inning. The prospect nicknamed “The Martian” has four homers while going 9-for-33 (.273) in his past nine games, lifting his average to .241.
“When teams leave stuff in the zone to him, he’s hammering it,” New York captain Aaron Judge said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, his approach. Ironing that out, making big improvements on defense as well, just becoming a solid player for us. If we’re gonna go far and go where we want to this year, he’s gonna be a big part of it.”
The Yankees also are getting notable contributions from Cody Bellinger, who is on a career-high 15-game hitting streak. Bellinger homered off Texas’ Jacob deGrom in the seventh inning on Wednesday, part of a 2-for-4 game. He is batting .377 (23-for-61) during his streak to raise his average from .196 to .264.
Judge hit a game-tying single in the eighth inning, and enters the series finale before a nine-game road trip with a major-league-leading .402 average.
The Rangers are trying to avoid getting swept for the second time this season. Jake Burger homered twice and had three hits on Wednesday as Texas finished with 10 hits but also struck out 11 times. The late collapse wasted seven dominant innings by deGrom.
“That’s why you hate to see this get away when you get such a great starting effort by Jacob,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “And that’s what makes these tougher.”
Texas will try to bounce back behind Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 1.61 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA in his past five starts. It is his lowest ERA in any five-start span in his career. In that stretch, he has held opposing hitters to a .167 average while getting 34 strikeouts, issuing six walks and allowing no homers.
Eovaldi enters with a 12 2/3-inning scoreless streak. He turned in his fourth scoreless start this season when he allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings during a no-decision against the Houston Astros on Friday.
The veteran right-hander is 5-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 games (19 starts) against the Yankees.
Carlos Rodon, who is 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his past six starts, will start for New York. After getting no-decisions in back-to-back starts, Rodon (5-3, 3.17 ERA) allowed one run on two hits in five innings during a 6-2 win over the New York Mets on Friday.
Rodon has permitted four hits or fewer in nine of his 10 starts this season. He is 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA in seven career starts against Texas.
–Field Level Media
