Jasson Dominguez's three-run double puts Yankees ahead for good in win over Royals as Max Fried improves to 3-0

Jasson Dominguez did not get as good a look at his big hit as everyone else did.

First, the Yankees outfielder hit himself in the back of his helmet with his bat on his backswing, causing it to fall off the top of his head and briefly cover his face.

Then, when he got to second base, he could be seen rubbing his eyes with his arm, having dislodged his contact lenses somewhere in the process.

But none of that obscured what is becoming more and more clear about the 22-year-old: The guy can play.

This time the evidence was a three-run, two-out, two-strike double to leftfield in the sixth inning on Tuesday night that put the Yankees ahead to stay in a 4-2 victory over the Royals at Yankee Stadium.

Dominguez went 3-for-3 overall, backing up another strong start by Max Fried, who is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA after allowing two runs in 6 2⁄3 innings.

Dominguez said afterward that he continues to gain confidence, especially with more reps while batting righthanded.

Before his game-winner against Royals reliever Angel Zerpa, the switch hitter had been 1-for-20 with seven strikeouts batting righty against lefties this season.

“Just glad that he could get some results there in a big spot, obviously,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He never seems panicked or rushed, and that’s one of the things you always like about him. So you know the situation’s not too big for him.”

Boone has been pulling Dominguez in late innings for defensive purposes, which was what seemed to happen in the seventh inning. But Boone said he planned to keep Dominguez in leftfield until he lost his contact lenses.

It all worked out for the Yankees. Cody Bellinger moved from centerfield to left and Trent Grisham came in in center. Two batters later, he made an excellent running catch on a deep ball hit by MJ Melendez.

Fried has been the given in a shaky, injury-plagued starting rotation, and he was again. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Luke Weaver and Devin Williams got the final seven outs without allowing a hit.

Afterward, Fried thanked his defense, and Dominguez.

“Extremely talented,” Fried said. “You can see that he’s making strides and growing every day.”

Dominguez acknowledged “having a little bit of a struggle from the right side,” but he said with more reps, he has been getting more confident there.

Fried allowed both of his runs in the third inning, on a home run by Melendez and a run-scoring double by Bobby Witt Jr. to make it 2-0 for the Royals (8-10).

The Yankees (10-7) had three hits and no runs through five innings against Kansas City starter Michael Wacha.

But Wacha ran into trouble in the sixth when an infield hit by Aaron Judge and walks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe loaded the bases with two out.

Exit Wacha, enter Zerpa to face Austin Wells. Zerpa walked Wells on four pitches, and it was 2-1. Then came Dominguez’s three-run double.

Fried left with two outs in the seventh and runners on first and second. Weaver then got Maikel Garcia on a fielder’s choice for the third out.

The Yankees will look for support for Fried in the rotation from Clarke Schmidt, who will make his 2025 debut on Wednesday night. The 29-year-old righty is set to return from right shoulder tendinitis that sidelined him in mid-March.

“I’m eager to get back out there and compete,” Schmidt told Newsday. “It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to. Obviously a little bit of a delay, but excited to get out there.”

Schmidt was 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 2024 but missed three months with a right lat strain. He said he felt good about his two starts with Double-A Somerset.

Is he looking forward to pitching and boosting the rotation?

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “I have full confidence in these guys that everybody’s going to figure it out. Obviously, it’s very early. But I think being able to help the guys and hopefully bolster the rotation is very exciting for me.”

Notes & quotes: Players on both teams wore No. 42 jerseys in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. Said Judge: “It’s just kind of a humble reminder of looking back on his story and what he went through just to play this game . . . He had a lot of hate and a lot of discrimination against him and still went out there, had an incredible career. So it just speaks volumes the type of hero he was.” . . . Paid attendance was 43,601, impressive for a Tuesday night in April.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.