Jasson Dominguez’s glove is not helping his case in the Yankees’ left field battle.
As impactful as his bat and legs may be offensively compared to Alex Verdugo, his defense has left plenty to be desired, turning in his latest costly misplay in Wednesday’s 9-7 loss to the Orioles in The Bronx.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the first inning, Colton Cowser hit a fly ball down the left-field line that Dominguez overran as it dropped just behind his glove for a two-run single.
“I have no excuse,” said Dominguez, who lamented making Marcus Stroman throw more pitches in the three-run inning. “That ball has to be caught 100 percent of the time.”
It marked Dominguez’s third defensive miscue in the last week after making a pair in Seattle during the road trip — dropping a ball in left field and misjudging a fly ball in center that dropped behind him.
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“He’s missed some plays that he should make,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I like how he moved after that ball — he didn’t seem uptight or anything.”
But it accentuated the conundrum the Yankees are facing as they head toward October, where every out is magnified: Do they prefer Dominguez’s offense or Verdugo’s defense?
“Kind of trying to take it all in here,” Boone said. “What gives you the best chance to win on a given night? Trying to give a good look to Jasson here down the stretch. We know he’s capable out there. I feel like he’s been giving some good at-bats of late. We’ll continue to pay attention to all of it.”
Dominguez, a natural center fielder who has not had a ton of reps in left field, has shown more pop in his bat and threat on the bases than Verdugo.
But Verdugo, whose prolonged offensive struggles earned him boos on Tuesday night, has proved to be much more reliable in left field.
“I feel like I can do it,” Dominguez said. “Obviously there’s things I need to work on, but I feel like with more work, I will get there.”
Nestor Cortes’ elbow injury opened the door for Cody Poteet to get back to the Yankees, and the right-hander provided length in mop-up duty on Wednesday, giving up one run across 3 ¹/₃ innings of relief.
Poteet had been solid across four spot starts earlier this year, pitching to a 2.14 ERA before landing on the IL himself with a triceps strain.
He then used up all 30 days of his rehab assignment to make six starts between Double-A and Triple-A before being activated off the 60-day IL last week and optioned to Triple-A.
“I’m very thankful,” Poteet said before Wednesday’s loss. “This is what you’re preparing for the whole time you’re rehabbing coming back from an injury, you want this opportunity. It’s here so I’m hoping I can contribute in a positive way.”
The Orioles took a hit on Wednesday as manager Brandon Hyde announced that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who had been trying to come back from a strain in his right shoulder and back, will not pitch again this year.
Yankee Stadium will host two games of a Dominican Winter League exhibition series between longtime rivals Tigres del Licey and Águilas Cibaeñas on Nov. 8 and 9.