The credit for the Yankees’ monumental 10-run seventh-inning rally goes to rookie phenom Jasson Dominguez.
The New York Yankees’ most explosive offensive display in over a decade during Tuesday’s 12-3 victory over the San Diego Padres wasn’t initiated by a thunderous home run or highlight-reel blast. Instead, the catalyst was 21-year-old Jasson Dominguez, whose aggressive baserunning to start the seventh inning transformed a tight contest into a decisive rout.
With New York trailing 3-2 and struggling through a three-game losing streak, Domínguez led off the bottom of the seventh facing Padres reliever Adrian Morejon. Batting from his historically challenging right side, the young switch-hitter connected with a 1-1 slider, driving it toward left-center field.
Rather than coasting into first, Jasson Dominguez accelerated immediately out of the batter’s box, rounded first base with determination, and slid safely into second ahead of Oscar Gonzalez’s off-target throw. This extra-base hit wasn’t merely another statistic—it represented a momentum-shifting act of aggression that energized a previously stagnant offense.
“It kind of set the tone for that inning,” manager Aaron Boone observed. “Then just great at-bats followed.”
Hustle triggers offensive avalanche
Domínguez’s aggressive double marked the first of seven hits the Yankees collected during the frame, culminating in Austin Wells’ first major league grand slam with two outs. Between those bookends, Anthony Volpe, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt contributed to the onslaught as New York sent 13 batters to the plate, hanging 10 runs on San Diego’s relief corps.
“Momentum right out the gate,” Wells noted. “For him to do that and get into scoring position immediately with no one out gave us a good chance to score.”
Indeed, Domínguez crossed home moments later on Wells’ game-tying single, knotting the score at 3-3 and unleashing a lineup that had been relatively quiet in recent games.
Right-side revival
The hit carried special significance for Domínguez, who entered the contest batting a meager .083 (3-for-36) from the right side this season, compared to a robust .307 with an .845 OPS as a left-handed batter. Tuesday night represented a potential breakthrough, as he also added a walk and a single from the left side, recording his eighth multi-hit performance of the year.
“I’ve been struggling from the right side,” Domínguez admitted. “Getting that hit from that side obviously means a lot.”
Teammates recognized the importance of his contribution.
“That’s huge, and that’s what he can do,” Rice emphasized. “He can stretch singles into doubles. He can do a lot of things with his speed. He’s got all the tools in the world, so it’s fun to watch.”
Boone reinforced the sentiment: “Fun to watch him run. He can really go.”
Anatomy of a record-setting frame
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Domínguez’s double didn’t simply place him in scoring position—it unraveled the Padres’ bullpen. Anthony Volpe followed with a single before Austin Wells drove Domínguez home. After Oswaldo Cabrera’s failed bunt attempt, Paul Goldschmidt received an intentional walk, and Trent Grisham worked a bases-loaded walk to push New York ahead.
Ben Rice, one of the team’s hottest hitters, delivered a two-run double. Aaron Judge, who earlier launched his 12th homer of the season, received another intentional pass before Bellinger connected for an RBI single. Volpe added another run-scoring hit before Wells cleared the bases with his grand slam into the right-field seats.
By the inning’s conclusion, 13 Yankees had appeared at the plate, producing 10 runs—their highest single-inning total since July 28, 2015, when they scored 11 against Texas. It also marked their first double-digit inning at Yankee Stadium since July 30, 2011, when they posted 12 against Baltimore.
“That inning was a really good one,” Domínguez reflected. “The whole thing, putting good at-bats together—it was a really good one.”
Contextual Significance
The Yankees entered the evening at 19-16 after dropping three consecutive games. With Clarke Schmidt matching former Yankee Michael King through six quality innings apiece, the contest hinged on momentum.
Judge’s fourth-inning solo shot, tying him for the MLB lead, provided initial energy, but Domínguez’s legs and bat ultimately changed the game’s direction. The Yankees transformed a 3-2 deficit into a 12-3 triumph, improving to 20-16 while maintaining their position atop the AL East.
Domínguez finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, elevating his season line to .238/.330/.706 with two homers and 12 RBIs across 30 games.
Future implications
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The Yankees view Domínguez not merely as a 2025 contributor but as a fundamental piece of their future, potentially their long-term solution in left field. The former top prospect, ranked No. 1 in the Yankees system and No. 22 overall by Keith Law entering the season, has consistently shown greater promise from the left side. However, Tuesday’s performance serves as a reminder of his potential should he balance his switch-hitting capabilities.
As Law noted, Dominguez’s 29.3% strikeout rate from the right side over the past two minor league seasons raised concerns, though his raw abilities remain exceptional.
“He’s a switch hitter with really good swings from both sides,” Law wrote, “but has always been better from the left side. That righty development will be crucial as he advances.”
Tuesday night offered a glimpse of that potential. While not the evening’s most powerful swing, it may have been its most consequential.
