Belli's mentorship, DJ's revival: Veterans stand out in Yanks' loss

NEW YORK – The deciding play came down to a photo finish, Cody Bellinger heaving a flat-footed prayer toward home plate, then engaging Jasson Domínguez in quiet instruction once the action ceased. The lazy fly had been a “tweener,” in the veteran’s words, and it might have had a different outcome if the rookie had taken charge.

“I think he had a better lane into where I was. I heard it late and I was just like, ‘OK, I’m just going to catch the ball,’” Bellinger said of Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly, which sent home the go-ahead run in the Yankees’ 3-2 Subway Series loss to the Mets on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. “We had a good conversation.”

That moment of mentorship represents a blip in Domínguez’s high-stakes classroom work; Bellinger acknowledges the 22-year-old’s game has continued to sharpen since the first days of spring, saying of Saturday’s play: “It’s going to be good for the future.”

Yet the most encouraging developments from Saturday’s contest might belong to a player with considerably more miles in the rear-view mirror: DJ LeMahieu, who showcased what manager Aaron Boone called “big-time” at-bats in a turn-back-the-clock performance.

Wearing red-rimmed sunglasses that he sports like afternoon armor, LeMahieu betrayed his trademark stoicism at least twice in shrugging off an injury-marred start to his season, pumping his fists with exuberance as though to say: ‘Hey, the machinery still works.’

“It just felt good to play at Yankee Stadium again and in front of these fans,” LeMahieu said. “It’s obviously a big series. I’m just excited to be out there. I don’t think I showed too much emotion -- but maybe for me.”

Less than two months from turning 37, LeMahieu reached the short porch in right field for a third-inning homer, then drilled a 100.5 mph single into center field that set up a potential rally in the fifth. Those runners were wasted; the next three batters made outs, including Aaron Judge, who wore his second 0-for-5 collar of the season (but is still hitting a robust .402).

Yet LeMahieu added more, a figurative exclamation point directed at those ready to write him off. He contributed a nifty defensive play sliding onto the outfield grass that ended the top of the seventh inning, leaving Lindor cradling his batting helmet in frustration by the first-base bag.

“These moments and these games, it’s just a lot of added noise; it kind of feels like a playoff game,” said Clarke Schmidt, who allowed two runs over six-plus innings. “Anytime you see DJ LeMahieu throwing fist bumps or fired up, it’s a good sign that it’s a high-intensity game.”

And LeMahieu had a chance to grab the day in the eighth, a bases-loaded invitation to break it open. LeMahieu felt the clean thwack of ball against barrel, sending a 106.6 mph liner toward right field. The drive carried an expected batting average of .700, but it entered patrolled airspace four steps into Juan Soto’s territory.

“I feel like I’m finding my rhythm pretty quickly after coming off the IL,” said LeMahieu, sporting youthful attire for the ride home -- a backward cap, black hooded sweatshirt and sneakers with fluorescent orange accents. “It’s a couple of games, but I just feel like I’m in a pretty good spot.”

LeMahieu had been the odds-on favorite to serve as the Opening Day third baseman, but a left calf strain sustained on March 1 lingered too long; Oswaldo Cabrera grabbed the job instead. Now, injuries have taken down both Cabrera (a fractured left ankle on Monday in Seattle) and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is trying to beat the estimated four- to six-week timetable of his right oblique strain.

Until then, the Yankees will continue to seek contributions from LeMahieu, plus Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas. LeMahieu’s game wasn’t flawless; he lunged for a ninth-inning Brett Baty grounder, unable to secure a ball that went for an infield hit. It was a prelude to Lindor’s sacrifice fly, lifted two batters later off Fernando Cruz.

That tilted the balance for both LeMahieu and Bellinger, whose exploits would be relegated to consolation prizes. Bellinger continued to benefit from mechanical tweaks made over the past week-plus, extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a long sixth-inning homer off Griffin Canning that banged an advertising board above the Yankees’ bullpen.

Bellinger’s defense, meanwhile, has remained reliable as ever. That was on display in the seventh, when Tyrone Taylor doubled to deep left-center off Mark Leiter Jr. Bellinger fielded the hop flawlessly and fed a strike to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who fired home in time for catcher J.C. Escarra to slap a tag on Baty, preserving the tie.

“For us, I really like what we’re doing,” Bellinger said. “I love the guys in this locker room. I think we’re playing really good baseball overall.”