The Yankees got a boost from Spencer Jones in his return to the majors, even if it came in a 5-3 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The 6-foot-7 right fielder went 3-for-3 and collected his first Major League extra-base hit, a run-scoring double that showed the kind of power that has made him one of the more intriguing names in the organization.
Jones said he was energized by the setting and the rivalry atmosphere. “I was excited,” he said. “It’s the rivalry, a lot of fans in the stands. I felt pretty good. I’m here, so I’m just going to keep doing my thing.”
Jones delivers right away
Promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Aaron Judge was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right first rib, Jones wasted little time making an impact. He singled in the second inning, drove in a run with a double in the fourth and added another single in the sixth.
His performance stood out on a night when Ben Rice also added to the Yankees’ offense with his 18th home run, giving him sole possession of the team lead. Rice said Jones looked ready from his first at-bat, noting that he handled tough pitches and eventually lined a ball up the middle.
A better showing after his first callup
Jones’ return came after a difficult first stint in the Majors last month, when he went 4-for-24 with 12 strikeouts. The raw tools remain obvious, though, especially his power, which showed in Triple-A when he hit 13 home runs in 43 games.
Jones said the time away helped him process what he needed to do better at the top level. “The first time around, it’s a lot of new information,” he said. “The last couple of weeks gave me some time to think about things and the way I wanted to play.”
Manager Aaron Boone echoed that view and said Jones had been giving quality at-bats even when the results did not follow. Boone said the same was true in this game, where Jones showed a cleaner, more composed approach at the plate.
Gray limits the Yankees, but crowds react
All three of Jones’ hits came against veteran Sonny Gray, who allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings. The matchup carried extra tension because it was Gray’s first start against the Yankees since he said he was happy to join a team where “it’s easy to hate the Yankees.”
The crowd made its feelings clear, and Gray heard plenty of jeers as he worked through the lineup. He was touched by Rice’s first-inning homer, Jones’ RBI double and Trent Grisham’s solo shot in the fifth, but he mostly kept New York under control.
Rice praised Gray’s ability to attack the zone and mix pitches effectively. He said Gray stays tough on right-handers with his sinker-sweeper combination and rarely gives hitters many comfortable swings.
Yankees still searching without Judge
Jones’ night offered a reminder of what New York may need as it adjusts without Judge in the lineup. Since the start of 2022, the Yankees are 36-50 in games Judge has not started, while their winning percentage rises sharply when he does.
For one game, Jones gave them a glimpse of how they might try to survive that stretch with production from younger hitters. Rice said Jones belonged at this level after watching his approach and confidence, and his return gave the Yankees at least one encouraging development in an otherwise disappointing loss.