New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez was mired in a power drought for 2 1/2 weeks, and there was no sign it was about to end.
Dominguez had just three extra-base hits, all doubles, and only one RBI in 11 games.
The 22-year-old put an end to the famine in epic fashion in the series opener on Friday, and he will look to build on a career-best performance when the Yankees face the Athletics on Saturday afternoon at West Sacramento, Calif.
Dominguez established career highs of three homers and seven RBIs in New York’s 10-2 trouncing of the Athletics. He hit two solo homers, belted a grand slam and also had a sacrifice fly.
Dominguez (22 years, 91 days) became the youngest player in Yankees history to hit three homers in a game, supplanting Joe DiMaggio (22 years, 200 days in June 1937).
“Very impressive,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “Really quality at-bats by him. He’s capable of things like that.”
The switch hitter hit two homers from the left side, including the grand slam. He also hit one from the right side, his first as a major-leaguer.
There were plenty of heroes for New York, but Dominguez’s first career slam broke it open.
“When I hit that ball, I was thinking, ‘No way. There’s no way.’ But it was awesome,” Dominguez said after the Yankees won their third straight contest.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay tipped his cap to Dominguez.
“He had a great night, no doubt about it,” Kotsay said. “He’s one of their great young players, and (Friday) he showed why.”
New York star Aaron Judge went 1-for-4 in the opener and is 3-for-19 over the past five games.
Judge grew up about 50 miles to the south in Linden, Calif., and played college baseball at Fresno State from 2011-13.
He twice flirted with homers. He drilled a line-drive bullet off the left field wall in the first inning for a double and hit a drive to the wall in left in the sixth.
“It was pretty cool playing a game here,” Judge said. “I haven’t played a game here since the Fresno State days. It was nice to be out there.”
The Athletics lost their third straight game. They got their runs on Jacob Wilson’s RBI single in the eighth and Lawrence Butler’s RBI single in the ninth.
“It’s really cool to play against the Yankees,” said Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz. “They’re going to draw big crowds wherever they go. We want to beat them, too. Hopefully, we can do that (Saturday).”
New York left-hander Carlos Rodon (4-3, 2.96 ERA) gets the ball Saturday and will look to continue his torrid pitching.
Rodon is 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA over his past four starts. He has allowed just 11 hits in 25 2/3 innings during the stretch.
Rodon, 32, received a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on Monday despite another spectacular outing. He allowed just three hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and left with a 3-0 lead before the New York bullpen allowed four runs in the eighth during a 4-3 setback.
Rodon is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in eight career starts against the Athletics. Miguel Andujar is 4-for-9 with a homer off Rodon, while Gio Urshela is just 1-for-10 with five strikeouts.
The Athletics are starting left-hander JP Sears (4-2, 2.93 ERA), who also is 3-0 over his last four outings. Sears has a 1.96 ERA during that stretch.
Sears, 29, allowed two or fewer runs in each of those starts. He received a no-decision in his last turn when he allowed two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 against the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
Oswaldo Cabrera (4-for-9), Anthony Volpe (3-for-10), Paul Goldschmidt (3-for-4) and Judge (2-for-6) all have homered off Sears.
–Field Level Media
