Before the 1934 MLB season, Fenway Park in Boston added a new scoreboard inside the left-field wall. It showed the count with coloured lights: green for balls, red for strikes, and indicators for outs.
That history mattered on Saturday night when Yankees prospect Jasson Domínguez lost track of the count in the seventh inning. On second base, he didn’t notice there was only one red light lit when Trent Grisham swung and missed. Thinking the inning was over, Domínguez left the base and was tagged out. The Yankees lost 4-3 to the Red Sox.
“For some reason, I thought he had two strikes,” Domínguez said. “I have nothing to say; no excuses. I made a mistake.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Domínguez felt “terrible” and added, “It’s probably something that won’t ever happen to him again.”
The loss dropped New York to 1-4 against Boston this season and marked their second series defeat to their rivals.
“They’ve pitched us tough, and we haven’t scored,” Boone said.
Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins, who recently told the Boston Herald he would rather “retire” than play for the Yankees, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits.
Boston scored early after a throwing error by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Rob Refsnyder scored the unearned run. Volpe tried a leaping throw, and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said, “I feel like that one was on me. He should have the freedom to throw that ball across the diamond like he did.”
Carlos Rodón started for the Yankees and gave up four runs, three earned, over five innings. He said Boston’s hitters came out swinging early with a strong team approach.
“They’re a pretty solid team. They definitely can swing it,” Rodón said. “They were a little more aggressive than last time, Sunday at Yankee Stadium.”
Boone said, “I actually thought he was pretty sharp this time around.”
The Yankees rallied in the seventh after Dobbins left. Walks to Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. set the stage. Domínguez drove in a run with a single, and Austin Wells followed with another RBI hit.
But after Grisham struck out, Domínguez mistakenly left second base, thinking the inning was over. Boston’s catcher noticed and threw to second. Domínguez was tagged out.
“Like I said, I just made a mistake,” Domínguez said.
Boone told him to stay aware. “It’s reminding yourself with speaking out loud, talking to each other, making sure you’re always paying attention to that,” Boone said.
In the ninth, the Yankees nearly tied it. Goldschmidt doubled and scored. Domínguez reached second again but Wells’ fly ball fell short.
“Everyone knows the rivalry that we have with Boston,” Domínguez said. “We just want to win. Losing at home, losing here, it’s tough.”
Photo: Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
