Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees

There are a few ways to characterize the decision to start Spencer Jones at the No. 3 spot in the lineup against the Mariners on Wednesday night, but one of the words that comes to mind is “belief.” With both Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger sidelined in June and late July, respectively, Jones has received considerable run at the corner outfield spots, and up to this point, he’s been slotted in the back half of the Yankees’ lineup. Jones’ most recent stint in the Majors has been considerably smoother than the stretch after his initial callup on May 8 -- thanks to a more consistent run of games in June and July -- but he entered Wednesday evening hitting just .129 in nine games in August (35 plate appearances). Nevertheless, manager Aaron Boone wrote Jones’ name into the third spot, largely hunting future matchups with seven left-handed hitters in the lineup. The lanky slugger rewarded him with two doubles and three RBIs (with a hit-by-pitch and stolen base for good measure) in the Yankees’ 10-5 win over the Mariners, his second career multi-extra-base-hit game. “I think the game slows down on your own terms as long as you are able to recognize that it’s speeding up on you, right?” Jones said before the game. “I think the thing that helps the most is the familiar faces and getting to know these guys in Spring Training, knowing that we’re all pulling the same rope. “I think as you settle and recognize the ways you can help the team win, a lot of things slow down for you. But just having the people you know and trust helps a lot.” Jones combined with Trent Grisham (who homered twice and doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning) and Ben Rice for eight RBIs to help New York secure the series victory. The offensive outburst from the top of the order helped carry the Yankees to their fourth consecutive comeback win.