Jasson Dominguez is claimed to be from out of this world, which is similar place someone would have needed to be from to say two weeks ago — and on most days since then — that the Yankees could get back within the playoff chase.
And yet … Dominguez is real.
The Yankees’ postseason possibilities? Still miniscule, but Dominguez has not less than given them some life in the ultimate month of the season.
In his fifth game as a giant leaguer, Dominguez enjoyed 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 won eight of their last nine games, and are back above .500 for the primary time since Aug. 14.
They’ve suddenly pulled inside 6 ½ games of the ultimate AL wild-card spot, though their potential road to the postseason stays an extended shot with 23 games left.
After the Tigers took an early 1-0 lead on a pair of hits in the primary inning, Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt settled right into a groove.
He retired 16 straight into the seventh inning, when he allowed three singles that forced him out of the sport as a 4-1 lead became a 4-3 lead.
Wandy Peralta worked out of Schmidt’s jam within the seventh before creating one in all his own doing within the eighth, loading the bases with two outs.
But Greg Weissert, in his first appearance since May, got here in from the bullpen to place out the fireplace by striking out Matt Vierling to finish the inning.
The Yankees didn’t rating in the primary inning, but a tough line drive from Giancarlo Stanton knocked Detroit starter Matt Manning out of the sport.
The 119.5 mph hot shot drilled Manning in the best foot, and while he recovered to record the ultimate out of the inning, he left the sphere in pain and didn’t return for the second inning.
That turned the night right into a bullpen game for the Tigers, and the Yankees took advantage.
Oswald Peraza got a rally began within the second inning with a two-out single, the primary of his three hits on the night.
After Oswaldo Cabrera drew a four-pitch walk, DJ LeMahieu poked a single the opposite method to drive in Peraza and tie the rating at one.
Dominguez then led off the third along with his first Yankee Stadium home run to take a 2-1 lead.
The 20-year-old became only the second Yankee to hit three home runs in his first five profession games, joining his (briefly) former Triple-A manager, Shelley Duncan.
Reliever Beau Brieske followed that by walking Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton before Peraza roped a two-out double to the gap to make it 3-1.
Within the fourth, Aaron Judge doubled and Dominguez singled, setting the table for Torres, who ripped a single back up the center for the 4-1 lead.