Weathers Great & The Summer of George! NY 2 St Louis 0

August 5, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
George Lombard Jr. HR's in his first MLB game -- giving NY a 2-0 lead in the 5th.

George Lombard Jr. hit a HR and made 2 terrific plays in the field in his first MLB game to back 6 shutout innings by Ryan Weathers as the Yankees beat St. Louis 2-0 on a beautiful Tuesday night in the Bronx.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo HR in the 2nd that ended up being the game winner. Lombard’s HR provided an insurance run in the 5th.

Fernando Cruz allowed a leadoff double in the 7th but got 2 outs before handing the baton to Brent Headrick who got the final out stranding the runner on 3rd. Headrick then got into trouble in the 8th, allowing the first 2 batters to get on — but got 2 outs and handed the baton to David Bednar, who got the final out on a strikeout with the bases loaded in the 2-0 game.

Bednar then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th for another non-agita, 4-out save.

But the story of the game was George Lombard Jr. with his HR and defense in his first MLB game, with his parents in the stands watching. His performance kicked off The Summer of George tweets by the Yankees and their fans — recalling the old George Costanza of Seinfeld bit.

“Obviously a great, great first night for him,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Lombard. “The HR was great; the defense was tremendous. That play in the hole, that he and Jazz turned, was pretty special. You can see how fluid he is out there; how physical he is. Certainly a night to remember for him and his family too.”

Like a Puma

“The ease with which he makes plays is what I’ve marveled at the last 2 springs being around him,” added Boone. “There’s the physicality but there’s a quickness and balance. I think his soccer background helps him.”

Boone elucidated when asked again about Lombard’s defense:

“It’s really stood out watching him in Spring training the last couple of years. Even the days I’ve thrown him at 3rd base or 2nd base. Just the ease with which he makes throws — doesn’t feel like he’s ever having to reach for it, yet there’s plenty of life on it. He can be on the run; he can be off balance a little bit and he’s very true. The athleticism and the physicality that he can play it with is really what stands out.

Like a Puma.”

“It was exciting,” said George Lombard Jr. “Tight game; the energy was awesome. Lot of people here. Just one of those awesome tight games; both pitchers throwing well; I’m glad we came up with the win.”

George Lombard Jr’s, younger brother Jacob made his pro debut in the minor leagues for the Marlins — and Jacob hit a HR too.

NY improves to 64-50, still 3.5 behind Tampa (which came from behind in the 9th to win against Colorado), and 2 ahead of Boston in the AL East. St Louis drops to 56-58.

1. Weathers Fantastic — Again

Many Yankee fans were pissed that Brian Cashman only got two hitters (Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos) at the trade deadline — and didn’t pick up a catcher or reliever. But Brian Cashman didn’t need to make major moves for over-priced players at the trade deadline — he built this team over the last few years — including a tremendous signing of Ryan Weathers last winter.

Weathers was signed as a emergency starter who could be added to the bullpen, where he has spent much of his career. And he has been tremendous as a starter — the Yanks are still missing Carlos Rodon from the 4-Aces rotation (that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Cam Schlittler with Will Warren fighting Weathers for the final spot).

After NY lost 13-7 in the HR Derby of the night before — Weathers simply went out and pitched another gem — 6 innings of 4-hit shutout ball, striking out 6 and walking 1.

Weathers pitched 1-2-3 innings in the 1st and 3rd, and faced the minimum batters by getting double plays in the 2nd and 5th.

2. Lombard Excels in Field

And some of that was due to George Lombard Jr. who took over shortstop and electrified Yankee Stadium the way Derek Jeter did when he first came up — with athletic, sure-handed plays in the field and a strong arm.

Lombard turned a double play in the 2nd that had Paul O’Neil waxing poetic on the broadcast.

Lombard turned another nifty double play in the 5th.

3. Lombard’s Family Watching

Lombard’s mother and father were in the stands watching — and it was interesting to note that Lombard — like Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge before him — comes from a mixed marriage, icing on the cake.

Lombard’s father — George Lombard Sr. — is a former MLB outfielder who is now a coach with the Detroit Tigers. Their other son Jacob was just drafted in the June 2026 draft by the Miami Marlins.

It was reported that George Lombard Jr.’s grandmother on his mother’s side — Posy Lombard — was a notable civil rights activist and associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (So a Lombard married a Lombard.)

4. Chisholm HR Puts NY Up 1-0 in 2nd

St Louis started Hunter Dobbins — and he pitched well: 6.1 innings of 4-hit ball allowing 2 runs. Both runs came on HR’s — the first a towering drive to right by Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the 2nd to give NY a 1-0 lead.

5. Lombard HR Puts NY Up 2-0 in 5th

Dobbins got into and out of a mini jam in the 4th when he walked Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr. singled to lead off the inning — but he got consecutive groundouts and a strike out to end the threat.

But in the bottom of the 5th George Lombard Jr. got his first MLB hit — a 392-foot HR to left for a 2-0 Yankee lead.

6. The Summer of George

Excitement abounded for George Lombard Jr. — and the Yankees team account led the charge:

Fans picked it up:

7. Cruz Passes Baton to Headrick in 7th

Weathers struck out the first 2 batters of the 6th — then allowed consecutive baserunners with a walk and single to put runners on 1st and 3rd in the 2-0 game. He went 3-2 to Jose Fermin before getting a lineout right to Heliot Ramos in left for the final out. Phew.

Fernando Cruz came in for the 7th and allowed a leadoff double to Nelson Velazquez before getting a ground out and line out and handing the ball to Brent Headrick to face the lefty-hitting centerfielder Nathan Church, who he got to ground out stranding Velazquez at 3rd.

8. Headrick Passes Baton to Bednar in 8th

Headrick got into his own trouble in the 8th — allowing a leadoff single to catcher Pedro Pages and walk to leftfielder Bryan Torres.

With runners on 1st and 2nd in a 2-0 game, Headrick bore down and got 2nd baseman JJ Wetherholt to ground out — moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd — and striking out DH Ivan Herrera.

He then gave the baton to David Bednar — who intentionally walked Alec Burleson (he of the 3 HR’s the night before) — then struck out Velazquez with 3 splitters, leaving the bases loaded. PHEW.

Former Yankee Caleb Ferguson relieved Dobbins in the 7th and pitched 1.2 shutout innings — so we were to the 9th with the Yanks still clinging to a 2-0 lead.

And David Bednar then came back in and pitched a non-agita 9th — lineout, strikeout, strikeout for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816389

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