Jasson Dominguez shines in Yankees' win

Yankees’ Jason Dominguez Sparks Victory Against Nationals

On Friday, Jason Dominguez stood out among the Yankees’ hitters, which might seem a bit surprising given the team’s struggle prior to Thursday’s break. Yet, Aaron Boone has expectations for more from him.

And that’s exactly what Dominguez delivered during the game.

The 23-year-old outfielder ignited a winning rally in the ninth inning, starting with a solo home run from the left side, and followed it up with a single from the right as the Yankees triumphed over the Nationals, 5-3, at Nationals Park.

“I feel like I’m improving,” Dominguez stated. “I’ve been focusing on having better at-bats. That was my main goal going into the game.”

His recent performance shows in his .333 batting average (10 hits in 30 at bats) over the last eight games, which is crucial for a Yankees squad in dire need of offensive strength. However, with 34 games played this season, he holds a batting average of .242 with an OPS of .709.

Before the game, Coach Boone expressed his thoughts, saying, “I expect more.” He acknowledged that while Dominguez has been having solid at-bats throughout the year, he hasn’t yet made a significant leap. Boone added, “His on-base percentage shouldn’t remain where it is. He’s capable of more. It feels like he hasn’t fully ignited yet.”

Boone also noted that Dominguez had experienced some bad luck lately, citing instances where he hit the ball hard but right at defenders during the Tampa series. “If he can keep that up, he’s got the potential to be special with his speed and power across the board,” Boone remarked.

The switch-hitter could become a key player in the Yankees’ lineup, especially as they cope without both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for the foreseeable future.

Dominguez is still adjusting to his role as a right fielder, but if he can produce more consistently at the plate, any defensive flaws he has may become less consequential.

In another highlight, Ryan Weathers performed admirably against the Nationals, one of the top scoring teams, holding them to a single run over 5.1 innings, despite some defensive mishaps. He focused on using more sweepers, sliders, and changeups, tossing only seven four-seam fastballs, yielding six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

“It’s a bit unusual for me, but my goal is to support my team in winning,” Weathers noted. “If reducing fastballs helps win, I’m all for it.”

Meanwhile, Paul Goldschmidt had a rough game, going 0-for-34 in the first inning before getting on base with a single and an infield hit.

Angel Chivili showed promise in his recent outings against the Rays, pitching a perfect inning on Wednesday and two flawless innings on Thursday, tallying three strikeouts. This performance allowed him to stay on the roster rather than return to Triple-A for reinforcements.

“Wow,” Boone remarked. “What he did on Thursday was impressive. Coming off a solid performance, he effectively threw strikes, and his changeup has been particularly good in the past two games.” He, however, did not pitch during Friday night’s victory.