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Yankees At-Bat of the Week: George Lombard Jr. (9/30)

The New York Yankees’ postseason struggles took a bizarre turn in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series, where defensive miscues rather than offensive firepower became the story. After a dominant 9-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1—led by Ben Rice’s historic two-home-run, six-RBI outburst—the Yankees dropped five errors in the first five innings against the Boston Red Sox, undoing any momentum from Cam Schlittler’s starting effort.

The team’s collapse mirrored their infamous fifth-inning meltdown in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, this time compounded by a bullpen that seemed as rusty as the rest of the lineup. Amid the chaos, one moment stood out: George Lombard Jr.’s clutch RBI single in the sixth inning, a play that hinged on Spencer Jones’ hustle down the line after reaching on a wild pitch.

The Yankees’ bullpen, including Garrett Crochet—who hadn’t thrown a major-league pitch since April due to a shoulder injury—struggled with command, offering Lombard a pair of off-target pitches before he capitalized with a disciplined swing. Crochet’s return from injury, though, marked a rare bright spot in an otherwise forgettable outing for New York, which entered the game already reeling from an offensive blackout in Game 1.

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