Eliezer Alfonzo delivers emotional first hit in Dodgers' loss to Yankees

Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times on Jul 19, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — Eliezer Alfonzo jumped on a first-pitch cutter, keeping his hands inside to send it into shallow center field.

Two weeks after making his major league debut under tragic circumstances, Alfonzo recorded his first hit.

It was a heartwarming moment early in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader. By dropping the series finale, the Dodgers settled for a series win instead of sweep at Yankee Stadium.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete-game gem against the New York Yankees came at a perfect time for a Dodgers team looking to keep its pitchers rested.

With starting catcher Will Smith sidelined indefinitely because of a neck injury, Alfonzo has served as the backup to Dalton Rushing for the last two weeks.

The morning of Alfonzo’s debut, his sister and stepmother, who had been missing since two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela last month, were found dead. Alfonzo still played, honoring them on the field.

Alfonzo’s familiarity with the Dodgers’ pitching staff from spring training has helped provide some stability in Smith’s absence. But he had yet to contribute at the plate, going 0 for 9.

Until the third inning of Game 2 Sunday.

Alfonzo rounded first base, kissed his closed right hand and pointed to the sky. Then he turned to the visitors dugout, grinned and lifted both fists above his head.

His teammates made sure to get the ball back. And Teoscar Hernández held it up to show him.

Alfonzo’s two-out single didn’t start a rally. But in the bottom of the fourth, he helped squash one.

Dodgers right-hander Edgardo Henriquez’s command was faltering, to the tune of back-to-back walks and a wild pitch. Then with runners on second and third, he induced José Caballero to hit a grounder to third baseman Max Muncy.

Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ baserunner on third, took off on contact. Muncy threw on the run to Alfonzo, who was set up on the inside of the basepath. Alfonzo made a diving tag on Volpe to prevent a run.

Throwing a bullpen game, the Dodgers (63-37) used seven pitchers, who combined to limit the Yankees (55-44) to two runs through eight innings. Brock Stewart had a standout performance, entering the fifth with no outs and the bases loaded and retiring three straight batters. He then threw a clean sixth. Alex Vesia struck out the side in the seventh.

Utility man Tommy Edman’s pinch-hit homer in the eighth tied the score. But the next inning, Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo homer off Evan Phillips.

____