The fastball popped into the mitt of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal at 93 mph, enticing enough to induce a swing from Yankees rookie sensation Gary Sanchez, deceptive enough to whistle through the air unimpeded. The force of Jose De Leon’s delivery spun him 180 degrees, so he faced the vast expanse of Yankee Stadium. He slapped his right knee for emphasis, an exclamation point in an 8-2 victory.
In his second big-league start, De Leon overcame bouts of wildness and a feisty Yankees lineup for five innings of two-run baseball.