The decision to start rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. paid off for the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
No player in 124 seasons of Yankees baseball can say they collected a hit in a postseason game at a younger age than Lombard, who was 3 for 4 and scored two runs. The Yankees erupted for nine runs in their victory against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
The 21-year-old shortstop’s single against the Red Sox made him the youngest Yankee to collect a hit in his playoff debut — 21 years and 119 days, to be exact. The previous record holder was Jesus Montero (21 years, 310 days) in 2011 ALDS Game 4.
Mickey Mantle is the only Yankee to start a playoff game at a younger age than Lombard, who made his major league debut in August.
Lombard wasn’t done hitting. He later became the second-youngest player to have three or more hits in his postseason debut. The youngest was Gregg Jefferies (21 years, 64 days), who had three hits in Game 1 of the 1988 NLCS for the New York Mets.
Anthony Volpe, another right-handed hitter, started at second base.
Ben Rice was the Yankees’ offensive engine. The Cohasset, Massachusetts native went 4 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs. The Yankees can clinch the best-of-three series with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday.
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