NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm Jr. has tried a lot of things to snap out of his early-season slump. Nothing has worked quite like borrowing someone else’s pants.
On Friday night at Citi Field, Chisholm wore a pair of baggy pants belonging to Giancarlo Stanton. He went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs. He reached base four times. He had a hand in three of the Yankees’ five runs in a 5-2 Subway Series win over the Mets.
It was one of the more complete Yankees games Chisholm has put together all season.
Asked what made the difference on Friday, Chisholm shook his head and delivered his explanation with a grin.
“It’s something about the baggy pants,” he said.
The pants experiment that started with Grisham
The story behind Chisholm’s fashion fix began a few weeks ago. Earlier this season, the Yankees’ second baseman wore a pair of baggy pants belonging to outfielder Trent Grisham for a series in Houston. The results were immediate.
Across three Astros games, Chisholm went 5-for-12. He looked like the player the Yankees expected. Then the series ended. He switched back to his own pants. The hot stretch ended with them.
Chisholm went cold again. He entered Friday batting just .203 with a .607 OPS through 43 Yankees games. A hitter pressing, guessing and failing to find consistency.
Monday in Baltimore was the low point. The infielder went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, three with runners in scoring position. The Yankees sat him Tuesday against Trevor Rogers.
He came back Wednesday in Baltimore wearing the baggy pants again. This time they belonged to Grisham. The Yankees managed just one hit in a 7-0 loss to the Orioles. That hit was Chisholm’s double.
Enter Stanton’s pants
Before Friday’s game at Citi Field, Chisholm wanted to keep the baggy pants going. One problem. He could not find Grisham’s.
He went to the next-best option. Stanton is currently on the injured list with a right calf strain. His locker still had a pair of baggy pants. Chisholm grabbed them, had No. 13 marked on them and took the field.
Chisholm was asked about the switch from Grisham’s pants to Stanton’s and whether he considered them still lucky.
“We marked those No. 13,” the Yankees infielder said. “They ain’t his pants no more.”
The logic held up over nine innings.
What Chisholm did with the luck in the lineup
The pants did not just look different. The at-bats looked different too.
Chisholm’s biggest contribution came in the third inning. The Yankees had already strung together three straight two-out hits. They led 1-0. The second baseman came to the plate against Clay Holmes and smoked a double past the diving attempt of first baseman Mark Vientos. Two more runs scored. The Yankees led 3-0. That hit was the blow that broke the game open.
He later drew a walk in the fifth inning and came around to score on a Spencer Jones RBI single. That made it 4-0. Chisholm was in the middle of every meaningful Yankees rally on the night.
He finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored, one walk and one stolen base. It was only the second time this season he reached base four times in a game.
There was one down note. He was picked off at first base late in the game. But after what had been weeks of frustration, one mistake did not diminish the overall performance.
Why Chisholm’s breakout matters for the Yankees
Chisholm sits at the hinge of the Yankees’ bottom lineup. He has 30-30 potential. When he is locked in, the entire Yankees order becomes harder to navigate. When he is cold, opposing pitchers target the bottom third freely.
Entering Friday, the Yankees had won once in seven games. They had managed one hit in their last outing.
On Friday, the Yankees collected 10 hits against the Mets. Jazz had three of them. The connection between a performing Chisholm and a productive Yankees lineup was on full display.
Cam Schlittler, who pitched 6 2/3 dominant innings in the win, addressed Chisholm directly when speaking to reporters after the game. He made clear how the Yankees view the second baseman’s importance.
“Jazz is the guy,” Schlittler said. “Regardless of the start of the season, he’s a great player. It’s good to see him go out there and get a few knocks.”
Chisholm on what comes next
Chisholm was asked whether Friday’s performance would change his approach going forward. His answer suggested he was not planning to overthink it.
“I’m just going to keep the same mindset of trying to go out there and win and not worry about what I’m doing,” Chisholm said. “Just going to keep on trying to go help the team and win the game.”
Whether that includes Stanton’s pants for the rest of the Subway Series remains to be seen. Chisholm seemed to suggest he had already made his decision on that front.
He marked them No. 13. They are his now.
The Yankees improved to 28-17 with the win. They trail the Tampa Bay Rays by two games in the AL East. The Subway Series continues Saturday night at Citi Field.
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