Jose Trevino smacked a game-tying, two-run single and was robbed of what would have been his sixth home run of the year.
But the Yankees catcher did not need a bat on the most memorable and impressive play of the afternoon.
Trevino’s mind and arm combined for an inning- and jam-ending pickoff during Sunday’s 7-2 win over the White Sox in The Bronx.
Carlos Rodon was in trouble, already having allowed two runs in the second inning and trying to strand Zach Remillard on third base with two outs.
With a two-strike count, Martin Maldonado successfully checked his swing, but when most thought the play was over, it was just beginning.
Trevino caught Rodon’s pitch and appealed to first-base umpire Tripp Gibson, all eyes on that side of the field except Trevino’s and third baseman Jon Berti’s.
“I was looking at the check[-swing] call,” Rodon said. “I think [Remillard] was looking over there, too.”
Berti snuck behind Remillard, who had his back to Trevino and could not see where the catcher was looking.
Trevino’s glove pointed toward first base, but he stood up and threw across his body and behind Remillard, who was nonchalantly approaching the base.
Berti slapped on a tag and ran off the field, stealing an out — Trevino’s first successful back-pick of the season — and getting Rodon out of danger.
“Him and Berti being real heads-up there,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Paying attention to the little things.
“A lot of those little things have happened in different situations this year — those little winning nuggets that help you along the way.”
Trevino credited Berti for doing “a good job putting it on,” but when asked a follow-up concerning whether Berti had signaled for the play, Trevino went stonefaced declining to publicly reveal any Yankees secrets.
“Trevy paying attention like he always is and myself paying attention,” Berti said. “Trying to read the runner on third and taking a chance there with two outs.”
Trevino, a seven-year pro and one of the better defensive catchers in baseball, said the appeal-one-way, throw-another play was the first of his career.
The fact he executed it with Berti — a late March trade addition from the Marlins who bemoaned not having time in camp to get to know his Yankees teammates and ensure they would be on the same page for plays such as this one — added to the degree of difficulty.
Berti and Trevino, who are next-door neighbors in the clubhouse, did not need a spring training to unite for one of the smarter plays of the season.
“Maybe just getting those powers being locker buddies,” Trevino joked. “We’re starting to connect like that.”