George Lombard Jr. ties Yankees error streak record as defensive struggles persist

The Yankees’ decision to promote George Lombard Jr. was built on a foundation of elite defense. Through his first 14 major league games, the 21-year-old top prospect committed just one error. Over his last six, he has committed one in each — a stretch that tied a franchise record set more than a century ago.

Lombard made his sixth consecutive error in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium, matching the mark last achieved by Chick Fewster of the 1921 Yankees. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no major league player had committed errors in six straight games since Cleveland shortstop Mark Lewis in 1992. For the Yankees specifically, the last player to do so while playing shortstop was Roger Peckinpaugh in July 1915.

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“It’s something I’m trying to figure out,” Lombard said. “Obviously, it’s not acceptable. It can’t happen at this level. If you make your pitchers have to get extra outs, it just makes it way harder on us, and other teams are going to capitalize. It’s something we’re definitely going to have to clean up.”

The error came in the eighth inning on a slow chopper from Yainer Diaz that Lombard could not scoop cleanly. Third baseman Jose Caballero grabbed the loose ball and threw wildly to first, allowing Christian Walker to score Houston’s fifth run. The play resulted in two errors, though it did not directly alter the game’s outcome.

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The miscues have taken multiple forms. On Wednesday, a 105.2 mph grounder off the bat of Christian Walker deflected off the heel of Lombard’s glove. Tuesday featured a throwing error on a Jose Altuve infield single. During the weekend series in Toronto, there were fumbled grounders and a dropped foul popup.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence that the slump is temporary.

“He’s so skilled and gifted out there, and foundationally he’s really good, too,” Boone said. “He will get through it. You’ve just got to get a few going and then start playing carefree and easy a little bit.”

Teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who sits next to Lombard in the clubhouse, said he has offered advice.

“I think he’s handling it great, honestly,” Chisholm said. “For a kid that age, 21 years old, first time in the league and playing for the Yankees in New York — the way he’s going about it, it doesn’t really faze him when he’s out there. He’s looking for the next pitch to go make the next play.”

Lombard did provide one of the Yankees’ few offensive highlights, a sixth-inning triple off Steven Okert. The Yankees managed only three hits against Houston starter Hayden Wesneski, who allowed one run over five-plus innings. Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly accounted for the Yankees’ only run.

Gerrit Cole took the loss, allowing three runs over six innings in his first start against his former club since the 2022 AL Championship Series. Jeremy Pena homered off Yerry De los Santos in the seventh inning to extend Houston’s lead.

History offers at least one encouraging footnote. Peckinpaugh, the last Yankees shortstop with a six-game error streak, went on to win the World Series and an MVP award later in his career.

Lombard said Thursday marked his 20th major league game and that he has experienced similar stretches before. His approach remains straightforward.

“You just keep working,” Lombard said. “We’ve got to talk and figure out what’s going on, if there’s anything we see with the coaching staff and the guys. You just try to figure out what it is and then keep working.”

The Yankees now head into a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, a matchup with postseason implications and Lombard’s first exposure to baseball’s oldest rivalry. He said his confidence remains intact and his focus is on the next play.

“My main focus is turn the page and want the next ball hit to you and make the next play,” Lombard said.

For a Yankees team that has relied on defense behind a rotation built around Cole and Carlos Rodon, Lombard’s streak introduces a question that was not anticipated when the front office described him as “plug and play” in the field. The answer will come in the weeks ahead, beginning with a series that will test both the rookie and the team’s postseason positioning.

Source: MLB.com – “Lombard makes some dubious history after 6th straight game with error” (https://www.mlb.com/news/george-lombard-jr-makes-error-in-sixth-straight-game)