In summoning George Lombard Jr., the Yankees knew he could play defense.
In trading for Luis García Jr., the Yankees knew he could hit right-handed pitching and probably considered anything else a pleasant surprise.
And so in Friday’s 10th inning, the Yankees were validated and pleasantly surprised, respectively, as both newcomers to The Bronx made sparkling plays to save what became a comeback, 3-2 victory over the Braves.
The game was only reached extra innings because of a ninth-inning rally that was started by Lombard, who used his speed to reach on an infield single then hustled his way all the way to third when Raisel Iglesias’ throw to first sailed into right field.
Lombard came around to score the first of two runs that tied the game.
And in the next frame he made sure the game remained tied. Atlanta’s Sean Murphy hit a hard ground ball into the shortstop hole, which is where Lombard has starred in his brief time in the majors.
The rookie backhanded and left his feet — a small leap, if not quite a Jeterian one — to gain a bit of energy and showed off his arm with a cannon to first base, easily getting Murphy.
After a groundout that brought the ghost runner to third, Ronald Acuña hit a two-out bloop down the first-base line.
Three Yankees defenders converged on a flare that appeared to be sent into no-man’s land, until García ensured there was a man there.
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With his back to home plate, García extended and stuck out his glove at a full sprint, catching the third out in one of the better plays a first baseman can make.
