Jasson Dominguez is said to be from out of this world, which is the same place someone would have had to be from to say two weeks ago — and on most days since then — that the Yankees could get back in the playoff chase.
And yet … Dominguez is real.
The Yankees’ postseason chances? Still miniscule, but Dominguez has at least given them some life over the final month of the season.
In his fifth game as a big leaguer, Dominguez racked up a three-hit night, including his first Yankee Stadium home run, which broke a tie and helped the Yankees capture a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Wednesday night.
The Yankees (70-69) have now tied a season-high with five consecutive wins and have victories in eight of their last nine games to climb back above .500 for the first time since Aug. 14.
They have suddenly pulled within 6 ½ games of the Blue Jays for the final AL wild-card spot — the closest they have been since Aug. 17 — though their potential road to the postseason remains a long shot with 23 games left.
Jasson Dominguez had a three-hit day for the Yankees in their win over the Tigers
on Wednesday. Robert Sabo for NY PostThey do have six games remaining against the Blue Jays, but would need more help than just those two series to have any kind of a prayer.
For now, though, Dominguez is just enjoying the ride.
“He’s playing with that little grin on his face and enjoying playing baseball right now — obviously right in the middle of us winning games,” manager Aaron Boone said.
The 20-year-old’s favorite thing about Yankee Stadium after his first two games there?
“The right-field wall,” he said with a grin.
Dominguez’s lined shot in the third inning, which gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead, was smoked at 110.2 mph off his bat and landed in the first row in right-center field.
He became only the second Yankee to hit three home runs in his first five career games, joining his (briefly) former Triple-A manager, Shelley Duncan.
Before the night was over, the switch-hitting Dominguez added a pair of singles, including one off a left-handed reliever for his first major league hit as a right-handed batter.
Aaron Judge doubles in the Yankees’ win over the Tigers on Wednesday. Robert Sabo for NY Post“I think if you work really hard, when you get good results, it’s not going to be surprising because of all the work,” Dominguez said.
After Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt retired 16 straight into the seventh before the Tigers (63-76) made a 4-1 deficit 4-3.
Wandy Peralta worked out of Schmidt’s jam in the seventh before creating one of his own doing in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs.
But Greg Weissert, in his third big league appearance since May, came in from the bullpen to put out the fire by striking out Matt Vierling to end the inning.
Clarke Schmidt is congratulated by his teammates after being taken out in the seventh inning on Wednesday. Robert Sabo for NY Post“I was ready to get the job done,” Weissert said. “I’ve had a long year, so I wanted to come out this time and get ahead and really put it on him.”
Dominguez was not the only rookie to record a three-hit night.
Third baseman Oswald Peraza also achieved the feat for the second time in his last four games.
On Wednesday, Peraza singled and scored in the second inning to tie the score before roping an RBI double in the third that made it 3-1.
Gleyber Torres later added an RBI single in the third inning during a rally that was started by Aaron Judge’s double and kept alive by Dominguez’s single the other way.
“[Dominguez] is a threat in the middle of the lineup,” Schmidt said. “Honestly, he reminds me a lot of [Anthony] Volpe in the fact that he’s very mature and very calm and he doesn’t let the moment get too big. It’s not like he’s up here antsy to try to get a hit or try to hit a homer. He seems very professional and it seems like he kind of has that ‘it’ factor.”







