New York Yankees rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. is putting together a rookie season of extremes: the first Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut, and now a run of defensive miscues rarely seen in the modern game.
The 21-year-old committed an error for the sixth consecutive game in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros, a mark that ties the Yankees’ franchise record last reached by Chick Fewster in 1921. Looking specifically at shortstops, Lombard is the first Yankee to do it at that position since Roger Peckinpaugh in July 1915. Cleveland’s Mark Lewis committed errors in seven consecutive games in 1992 — the longest such streak in the majors — meaning Lombard’s six-game run is the first to reach at least six games since Lewis, though Lombard has not yet matched Lewis’s mark of seven.
The latest error came with the Yankees trailing in the eighth inning. Facing reliever Justin Topa, Yainer Diaz chopped a slow grounder to the left side that Lombard couldn’t scoop. Third baseman José Caballero then compounded the mistake, grabbing the loose ball and firing wide of first base, allowing Christian Walker to score Houston’s fifth run.
Lombard didn’t shy away from the criticism afterward. “Obviously, it’s not acceptable,” he said. “It can’t happen at this level.”
The rookie made just one error in his first 14 games before the current stretch, and he now has seven errors in 20 games with a .925 fielding percentage. Manager Aaron Boone isn’t panicking about the slump.
“He’s so skilled and gifted out there, and foundationally he’s really good, too,” Boone said. “He will get through it.”
Boone also pointed to inconsistency on tougher, in-between plays as part of the issue, and pitcher Gerrit Cole offered perspective on Lombard’s youth, saying errors “happen in groups for everybody” and crediting the rookie for working to improve.
The timing adds pressure: The Yankees (75-58) open a pivotal four-game series against the Boston Red Sox (73-60) on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, with New York holding a two-game edge for the top American League wild-card spot.
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