The decision to start rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. paid off for the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday, Sept. 29. No player in 124 seasons of Yankees baseball can say they collected a hit in a postseason game at a younger age than Lombard, who was 3 for 4 and scored two runs. The Yankees erupted for nine runs in their victory against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
The 21-year-old shortstop's single against the Red Sox made him the youngest Yankee to collect a hit in his playoff debut — 21 years and 119 days, to be exact. The previous record holder was Jesus Montero (21 years, 310 days) in 2011 ALDS Game 4. Mickey Mantle is the only Yankee to start a playoff game at a younger age than Lombard, who made his major league debut in August.
Lombard wasn't done hitting. He later became the second-youngest player to have three or more hits in his postseason debut. The youngest was Gregg Jefferies (21 years, 64 days), who had three hits in Game 1 of the 1988 NLCS for the New York Mets.
More news: Don Mattingly Defends Controversial Decision That Cost Phillies in Game 1 After his promotion, Lombard posted a .699 OPS (92 OPS+) in 152 regular season at-bats. Thanks to his outstanding defense at shortstop, he was credited with 1 WAR by Baseball Reference in his first 42 games — nearly a 4-WAR pace over a full season. Lombard had a .910 OPS in a limited sample of plate appearances (30) against left-handers this season.
With a left-hander (Payton Tolle) on the mound for Boston in Game 1, the decision to start Lombard over veteran Jazz Chisholm Jr. was a bit easier. More news: Former Yankees Infielder, 9-Year MLB Veteran, Announces Immediate Retirement Anthony Volpe, another right-handed hitter, started at second base. Ben Rice was the Yankees' offensive engine.
The Cohasset, Massachusetts native went 4 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs. The Yankees can clinch the best-of-three series with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports
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