The New York Yankees got the win, but George Lombard Jr. still walked away from Wednesday’s game with a piece of franchise history he probably would have preferred to avoid. The rookie shortstop committed an error for the fifth straight game, matching Álvaro Espinoza’s Yankees record from 1989.
Manager Aaron Boone called the stretch “a little bump in the road,” but for a team with the playoffs approaching, five consecutive games with an error is hardly background noise. Fans, naturally, have noticed — and they have not exactly been handing out participation trophies.
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Lombard Jr. Makes Yankees History for the Wrong Reason
The latest mistake came in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros.
With the Yankees leading 3-2, Houston loaded the bases after a leadoff walk to Jose Altuve and a double by Daulton Varsho. Christian Walker then hit a ground ball toward Lombard Jr., but the rookie could not handle it cleanly.
The error allowed Houston to tie the game and marked Lombard Jr.’s fifth consecutive game with a defensive mistake.
According to analyst Dan Clark, Lombard Jr. had matched Espinoza’s five-game streak from 1989 — the longest single-season run of consecutive games with an error by a Yankees shortstop.
That is one Yankees record nobody is lining up to celebrate.
Yankees Quickly Turn the Game Around
Fortunately for New York, the defensive miscue did not decide the game.
The Yankees responded immediately in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of Houston reliever Bennett Sousa. Trent Grisham opened the inning with a single before Ben Rice drew a walk. Luis Garcia Jr. then singled to load the bases.
Cody Bellinger followed with a huge RBI double, bringing home Grisham, Rice and Garcia Jr. in one swing.
Just like that, the Yankees had a 7-3 advantage.
New York added more insurance later and finished with a convincing 9-3 victory. So while Lombard Jr.’s glove made headlines, the Yankees’ offense made sure the mistake did not become the story of the night.
Lombard Jr. Has Still Helped at the Plate
There is another side to the rookie’s recent struggles.
While his defense has been shaky, Lombard Jr. has provided useful production offensively. The 21-year-old is hitting .265/.320/.368 with two home runs, six RBIs and 12 runs scored across 75 plate appearances.
For a young shortstop getting his feet wet in the majors, that offensive contribution matters.
The Yankees clearly value what Lombard Jr. brings to the lineup, and Boone does not appear overly concerned about the defensive issues.
“I feel like over time he’ll be really good at the routine [plays],” Boone said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “So I think that’s just a little bump in the road.”
The Defensive Problems Have Already Hurt
This is not Lombard Jr.’s first costly mistake during the series against Houston.
In the series opener, a 9-7 Yankees loss, he committed a throwing error in the first inning. After Jazz Chisholm Jr. pushed Jose Altuve’s ground ball toward shortstop, Lombard Jr. fielded it and attempted to throw to Garcia Jr. at first base.
The throw was too fast for Garcia Jr. to secure, allowing Yordan Álvarez to advance to third.
Instead of potentially turning the play into a double play or at least recording an out, the Yankees came away empty-handed.
For a team with postseason ambitions, those small mistakes can become very large problems once October arrives.
Can Lombard Jr. Flip the Script?
Lombard Jr. has now entered Yankees history alongside Espinoza, but there is an important difference: Espinoza eventually produced a much more positive defensive streak.
In 1989, Espinoza followed his five-game error streak with a remarkable 31-game stretch without committing an error.
That is the kind of history Lombard Jr. will want to chase.
At 21, the rookie has plenty of time to develop, and the Yankees clearly believe his defensive game can improve. The goal now is simple: clean up the routine plays, build confidence and make sure one rough stretch does not snowball into something bigger.
The Yankees may have won 9-3, but Lombard Jr.’s glove remains a storyline worth watching. If he can turn this difficult stretch around quickly, Wednesday’s error could eventually become little more than an awkward footnote in his young career.
FAQ:
What Yankees record did George Lombard Jr. match?
George Lombard Jr. matched Álvaro Espinoza’s Yankees record by committing an error in five consecutive games during a single season.
When did Álvaro Espinoza set the record?
Espinoza established the five-game error streak in 1989.
How old is George Lombard Jr.?
George Lombard Jr. is 21 years old and is in his rookie season with the New York Yankees.
What happened during Lombard Jr.’s latest error?
Lombard Jr. could not cleanly field Christian Walker’s ground ball in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, allowing a run to score and tying the game.
Did the Yankees lose because of Lombard Jr.’s error?
No. The Yankees responded with a four-run seventh inning and eventually defeated the Astros 9-3.
How has George Lombard Jr. performed offensively?
Lombard Jr. has provided a boost at the plate, hitting .265/.320/.368 with two home runs, six RBIs and 12 runs across 75 plate appearances.
What did Aaron Boone say about Lombard Jr.’s defensive struggles?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the stretch as “a little bump in the road” and expressed confidence that Lombard Jr. will improve on routine defensive plays.
Could Lombard Jr.’s errors become a problem for the Yankees?
Yes. With the postseason approaching, the Yankees will need reliable defense from every position. However, Lombard Jr.’s age and offensive contribution give the team reason to remain patient.
What defensive streak did Espinoza have after his five-game error streak?
After his five-game error streak in 1989, Espinoza went 31 consecutive games without an error.
Can George Lombard Jr. turn his defensive struggles around?
Absolutely. The rookie has plenty of time to improve, and the Yankees appear confident in his long-term potential. The big challenge now is turning the current error streak into a short-lived bump rather than a season-long concern.
Also Read: Did MLB Get the Andrew Vaughn Interference Call Wrong?
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