The New York Yankees are on an unbelievable streak. After spending the whole season trying to deal with difficulties, the club has finally found its rhythm. But one young player has decided to experiment. Oswaldo Cabrera, who has had a couple of minor league stints this season, is testing out some new swings. Except one of them cost the Bronx Bombers a game.

This late in the season, the Yankees might actually make it to the playoffs even after a disastrous performance throughout the year. Their usual tactics have failed horribly, and promoting minor leaguers to the majors will not produce sudden results. Maybe that’s why Cabrera decided to switch things up, to remind everyone he’s still here in the crowd of rookies. Even though it didn’t end well.

Switch Hitting: Oswaldo Cabrera Bats Left-Handed Against a Lefty Pitcher With Disastrous Results

For a switch hitter, it might not seem like big news. But for Cabrera, yesterday was the first time in his professional career that he hit left-handed against a left-handed pitcher. The 24-year-old has been signed with the Yankees since he was 16 but this new experiment came at ill-opportune time. The result was that Pirates reliever Ryan Borucki ended up striking him out.

The Yankees lost 3-2 in what could have been a sweep. Even manager Aaron Boone would have preferred something else. “With Borucki there, probably would have preferred him to stay from the right side,” he said. “But something he’s been toying with in certain matchups.”

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Nevertheless, Cabrera was not disheartened. “That was a strikeout, but at the same time, I felt OK,” the slugger said after the game. “I know the situation was tied, but at the same time, I was like, ‘Why not?’ I have to try. What can happen?”

Incidentally, Cabrera is a natural right-hander but has been feeling more comfortable on the left lately. And trial runs of new strategies don’t mean the Venezuelan player will give up switch-hitting now. Since the Yankees were already sure to win the series, maybe Cabrera felt more confident at trying new things out. After all, a previous game had brought a home run after three months.

Cabrera’s Special Home Run Clinches New York Yankees Victory

The series opener between the Pinstripes and the Pirates was a special occasion – Roberto Clemente Day. Honoring the Pittsburgh legend, Cabrera and Yankees captain Aaron Judge wore some custom yellow and black cleats. But for the utility player, the real magic of the night was his first home run since June 3rd. But how did it happen?

Days After ‘The Martian’ Devastation, Yankees’ Forgotten Youngster Takes Center Stage With Rare Blast: “Watch It Fly…”

Most would credit it to the ballplayer’s talent but for Cabrera, it was some Clemente magic. Just a day before, he had visited the Roberto Clemente Museum with teammate Estevan Florial and had picked up the Pirates icon’s heavyweight bat. A legend associates itself with the move – if a player touches Clemente’s bat, they will have good luck the next day. Particularly in the form of a homer.

Well, the superstition played out beautifully, and luckily in the Yankees’ favor.

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