As first career home runs go, Jorbit Vivas’ was as meaningful as it was memorable.
Vivas jumped on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth inning and deposited a 94 mph high fastball a few rows deep into the right-field seats Thursday to provide the only run of the Yankees’ series-sweep-clinching 1-0 victory against the Rangers.
“It definitely means it’s special,” Vivas said through a translator. “Because you are helping your team win, and from Day 1, that’s what I’ve been trying to do here.”
Carlos Rodón and Yankees killer Nathan Eovaldi were locked in a pitchers’ duel when Vivas added the big hit — just the sixth of his rookie season — that was missing when the Yankees put two runners on base in each of the first two innings.
“So many things are going through in my head in that moment,” Vivas said. “I finally said, ‘Oh, my first one. Finally.’ I was looking for something high in the zone and just being ready to hit.”
It was Vivas’ second big contribution of the homestand, though the moments couldn’t look more different.
Four days earlier, Vivas, 24, battled through an 11-pitch at-bat against Ryne Stanek when the Yankees and Mets were tied in the eighth inning.
When Vivas finally put the ball in play after six fouls, first baseman Pete Alonso made an errant throw to home plate that scored the go-ahead run and opened the floodgates to a six-run outburst.
This power swing showed a different side of Vivas, who hit 50 home runs in 601 career minor-league games across all levels.
“To get your first in a 1-0 game and be the difference is huge,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s capable of that. Really good swing.”
Vivas was called up to the majors May 2 — after Jazz Chisolm Jr. went on the injured list — but has seen an uptick in playing time since fellow infielder Oswaldo Cabrera joined Chisholm on the shelf.
Rather than pull a stunt like the silent treatment, the Yankees in the dugout were waiting for Vivas at the top step to dole out back slaps and high-fives.
He also reached base on a catcher’s interference before he was replaced late in the game by pinch hitter D.J. LeMahieu to avoid a lefty-lefty matchup.
“We’re so happy for him,” said catcher J.C. Escarra, who hit his first career home run last month. “It was a huge home run because it was the run that ultimately gave us the win. Congrats to him. That was a special one.”
The Yankees retrieved the keepsake ball for Vivas, and he plans to bring it home to his family in Venezuela. He spoke to his mother — who watches “every game” — shortly after the last out was secured.
“They mean a lot to me,” Vivas said of his family. “They’ve been there for me since I was a little kid. Throughout this journey, a lot of support.”
