CHICAGO — The dictionary definition for “manufactured run” might now have to include Oswaldo Cabrera’s headshot.
With the Yankees’ offense sputtering, trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning against the White Sox on Wednesday, Cabrera provided a much-needed jolt of energy.
After hitting a leadoff single off reliever Justin Anderson, Cabrera swiped second base.
Then, the 25-year-old laced up his cleats and didn’t look back.
Alex Verdugo launched a ball deep into the right-field gap. Dominic Fletcher raced from right field and made a lunging grab but fell over center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in the process.
Cabrera, seeing the bodies flail in the outfield, tagged up and scored all the way from second on what was scored as a sacrifice fly.
The Venezuela native displayed no hesitation after taking off from 180 feet away, beating the relay throw home.
“When I saw the ball so deep, I just [started] to do my turn,” Cabrera said, laughing that he had never once scored from second on a sac fly at any level of baseball. “When I looked at Luis [Rojas, third base coach], I saw the hand up. I was like, ‘Let’s do it!’ ”
The hustle from Cabrera tied the game at 2-2 and jump-started a nine-run outburst across the seventh and eighth innings that fueled an eventual 10-2 triumph to take the series from the White Sox.
Part of that explosion included an RBI single from Cabrera, scoring Anthony Volpe in the top of the eighth inning.
The versatile Cabrera has started each of the past two games at third base after an elbow sprain sidelined Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Cabrera seems poised to man the job until the trade-deadline acquisition returns.
After going 2-for-5 on Wednesday, Cabrera has hit safely in each of his past five games, driving in runs in three of them.
“He’s been swinging the bat really well left-handed for about a month now,” manager Aaron Boone said, acknowledging a previous slump. “I thought he had more good at-bats tonight. Getting to scoring position there down a run. Just being heads up there, I think, was one of those little igniters for us tonight, no question.”
Though the Yankees possess other options at third in DJ LeMahieu and recent call-up Oswald Peraza, Cabrera may be the best bet to replicate Chisholm’s dynamic combination of hitting prowess and athleticism.
The third-year switch-hitter has also flashed a strong glove and range at the position, making several lunging plays to snag would-be hits.
After Tuesday’s win, Cabrera mentioned feeling more comfortable at third given that he’s worked mostly at that infield spot this season.
Cabrera has already set career highs in home runs (eight) and RBIs (35), and could prove to be an interim sparkplug for a lineup seeking reliable options outside of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
“I’ve been working a lot,” Cabrera said, praising hitting coach James Rowson. “When I’m not playing, we are doing a lot of things inside of the cage and outside in the BP. Try to just get ready.”
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