MILWAUKEE — Spencer Jones’ first series as a big leaguer is in the books, but not before collecting his first career hit.
The Yankees top prospect got that out of the way Sunday, in the third game of his major league career, smoking an RBI single to center field off Brewers righty Logan Henderson in the second inning of a 4-3 loss at American Family Field.
Henderson threw a first-pitch slider and Jones pounced on it, drilling it 106.4 mph off the bat to score José Caballero from second for the 2-0 lead.
The milestone hit came on Mother’s Day, with Jones’ mom and family sitting next to the Yankees dugout, as they did all weekend, including his MLB debut Friday night.
“It was super exciting,” said Jones, who had the ball in a case sitting in his locker after the game. “I’m glad my family was here to share that with me. Teammates rooting me on, a lot of congratulations. I was excited to get a run across too for the guys. It was a pretty special moment.”
Jones’ new teammates were equally excited.
“Ecstatic,” said Aaron Judge, who was impressed by how “composed” Jones was throughout the series. “Everybody was kind of waiting for it. Just happy his family could be here for him.”
Jones finished the game 1-for-4 with a strikeout and the series 1-for-9 with five strikeouts and a walk, getting a stiff test from a challenging Brewers pitching staff that shut down most of the Yankees all weekend.
“As the days have gone, I’ve settled in more and starting to feel more comfortable, doing what I can do,” Jones said. “I think moving forward, going to be in a good spot.”
The 24-year-old (who turns 25 on Thursday) started in right field Sunday, with Judge getting a DH day, after starting in center Saturday and DH on Friday.
“I thought he had some good at-bats,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought got some decent swings off, was recognizing the zone. I don’t think he was chasing a lot, but also ran into some tough matchups there for him, too.”
Cam Schlittler was still “pretty sore” Sunday morning, Boone said, the day after taking a 108.5 mph comebacker off his left calf in the first inning of his six-inning gem.
The right-hander, who had a sizable welt and the imprint of the ball on his calf Saturday night, was expected to be getting treatment on it in the coming days ahead of his next scheduled start Friday against the Mets.
“I hope not, but I don’t know,” Boone said when asked if it could be an issue for his next start. “I’m sure he’ll be working overtime with the trainers and just trying to get that flushed out this week.”
Gerrit Cole made his fifth rehab start Sunday with Double-A Somerset, building up to 77 pitches across five innings while striking out eight, walking one and giving up two earned runs.
He is expected to need at least one or two more rehab starts before he could rejoin the Yankees.
To make room for Carlos Rodón on the active roster, the Yankees optioned reliever Kervin Castro back to Triple-A.
