Jahmai Jones hits first MLB homer as Yankees win

ST. PETERSBURG — The visitors’ clubhouse was loud on Sunday afternoon, with thumping bass beats from the sound system overpowered by celebratory shouts from Yankees teammates. There was a distinct aroma of barley and hops sacrificed to the carpet, and at the center of it all stood Jahmai Jones.

On a day when the Yankees belted five home runs, including a two-homer performance by catcher Jose Trevino, a milestone meant the most. Jones connected for his first Major League home run in the third inning, a shot that helped New York to a 10-6 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

“Getting to be in the lineup with the Yankees is special in itself, but doing it on Mother’s Day is something I’ll never forget,” Jones said. “My mom means a lot to me, and we’ve been through a lot together. I can’t wait to give her a call.”

Indeed, they have plenty to discuss. It has been a long wait for the 26-year-old Jones, who is wearing his fourth big league uniform following brief stints with the Angels (2020), Orioles (’21) and Brewers (’23).

That his first homer would come on this pink-bat holiday is significant to Jones, who relayed the following text message from his mother, Michele: “I’m so happy for you. The fact you did it on Mother’s Day is special. I can’t wait for a phone call later.”

Jones’ father, Andre, was a standout Notre Dame linebacker who played professionally for the Detroit Lions. He passed away from a brain aneurysm in 2011, just days before Jahmai’s freshman year of high school in Norcross, Ga. The event rocked the family, leaving Michele as a single mother to six children.

“Going through that, she had to take on a lot of different things to keep everything as normal as it could be,” Jones said. “Without her, I wouldn’t be here, for sure.”

While Jones’ teammates may not be familiar with the details of his path to The Show, they value the impact he has had for a team that has won 10 of its first 13 series, improving to 27-15 after taking two of three games from Tampa Bay.

“It was huge,” Trevino said. “I think all of the guys were excited for him. Every day, he comes in and handles his business. You grind every single day to just be ready for that one moment. He gets it, and he goes and does it.”

Manager Aaron Boone described Jones as a positive influence in the clubhouse, noting the utilityman’s sunny disposition. Claimed on waivers from Milwaukee in February, Jones was on the Yanks’ Opening Day roster, though Sunday marked only his second start. The home run came in Jones’ seventh at-bat as a Yankee.

“I’ve probably unfairly not played him enough, frankly,” Boone said. “You go through a long season, you don’t want energy suckers. You want people that give energy each and every day. And he does that. He’s accepted his role, he works hard and he’s ready at any moment.”

Jones’ homer came off Tampa Bay left-hander Tyler Alexander, as did Trevino’s two-run shot in the fourth inning and an Aaron Judge two-run homer in the fifth — Judge’s 10th of the season and his fourth in his past seven games.

Since May 3, Judge has collected 12 hits in 31 at-bats (.387), with eight extra-base knocks, nine RBIs and seven walks.

“He’s walking, he’s getting on base,” Boone said. “That was inevitable.”

The blasts supported right-hander Luis Gil, who permitted just three hits over six scoreless innings, picking up his fourth victory. Gil, who walked two and struck out three, has permitted three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts.

“I was able to get a lot of outs today,” Gil said through an interpreter. “Being able to get through the sixth, that’s really the important part for me.”

New York withstood a bullpen meltdown in the seventh, when Caleb Ferguson and Nick Burdi surrendered five runs, including a Jose Siri grand slam.

The Yanks answered in the eighth as Gleyber Torres snapped a 6-for-39 (.154) skid with a three-run homer, one that sent his teammates spilling onto the turf in front of the dugout — almost with the same fervor they displayed for Jones’ homer.

“I love baseball, I love being a part of this team,” Jones said. “We’re winning, and that’s all that matters. Wherever I fit in, as long as the team’s winning, you’re never going to not see me smiling.”