Luis García Jr. gave Yankee Stadium its first real October roar of the night in the fourth inning Wednesday, turning on Sonny Gray’s low, inside sweeper and driving it into the right-center-field seats. The 107 mph blast put New York ahead 1-0 in Game 2 against the Red Sox and handed Max Fried an early lead.
For García, it was a much different Bronx introduction than the one he received in Game 1. Used as a pinch-hitter in his first postseason appearance, he came up with the bases loaded in the seventh and was erased on a spectacular double play, then came out for a defensive replacement in the next inning.
Quick facts
- García made his first career postseason start in Game 2, batting third.
- His fourth-inning homer came on a 1-2 sweeper from Gray.
- The ball left his bat at 107 mph and gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
- He also hit a 108.5 mph lineout to right field in the first inning.
- Since joining New York at the Trade Deadline, García has hit .316/.369/.558 at Yankee Stadium with six homers and five doubles.
The first-inning out was a reminder that García had been seeing the ball cleanly from the opening pitch. His hard line drive to right ended the frame, but the next time he got a pitch to handle, there was no chance for a fielder to take it away.
García arrived from the Nationals at the deadline in a trade that sent four pitchers the other way. Since then, the right side of Yankee Stadium has become familiar territory for the left-handed hitter, who has repeatedly found the right-field wall and the seats beyond it.
With Aaron Judge sidelined, García knows the lineup cannot wait around for the captain’s return. Before the game, he said the remaining regulars understand what is required.
“With Judge out of the lineup, we still have a major responsibility to do our jobs and be the best we can on the field,” García said.
The 26-year-old has called the move to New York a meaningful return home. Born in the city, García still has extensive family in the area, giving him a support system as he settles into a new club and a new postseason stage.
There was concern at first about having to earn acceptance in another clubhouse. García said that feeling disappeared quickly after he arrived.
“When you come in, you can be a little worried that you have to go through that again,” García said. “But from the moment I walked into the clubhouse, that concern went away very fast because the guys made me feel like part of the team right away.”
