DJ LeMahieu gives Yankees glimpse of vintage form in Subway Series loss: Little chip on his shoulder
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.On a day that ended in defeat, there was not a more encouraging sight for the Yankees than the reappearance of the two-time batting champion they had not seen in a long time.In some ways literally: This was DJ LeMahieu’s first game in The Bronx since Aug.
25 of last year.In some ways less literally: LeMahieu tallied his first multihit game of the season and launched his first home run in his third game of the campaign after hitting just two homers in 67 games last year.Perhaps this was simply a blip in a long, extended downturn for an oft-injured 36-year-old, but it did not take long for the veteran infielder to remind of his résumé and signal that there might be more for him to offer.LeMahieu impressed defensively, sent hard-hit balls all around the ballpark (including one that left the ballpark) and simply looked, once again, like DJ LeMahieu during a 3-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday.“He looks like he’s got a little chip on his shoulder,” said Clarke Schmidt, who was charged with two runs in six innings partly because LeMahieu helped stop a potential Mets rally after Schmidt exited in the seventh.“He just looks fresh, looks like he’s got his legs under him.
It’s refreshing to see.”Activated this week from a calf strain — the latest malady for a player who has collected them — LeMahieu has come off the injured list hitting.In the third inning, he got under a Griffin Canning 94.8 mph fastball — significant for a bat that had struggled to catch up to heat in recent seasons — and lifted it over the short porch in right for his first homer since July 31.The Machine broke character in pumping his fist coming around first base — “Probably too much emotion,” LeMahieu said — and returned to a dugout that was filled with smiles.“Felt good to play at Yankee Stadium again in front of these fans and ...