LeMahieu: 'I feel pretty locked in right now'

NEW YORK -- DJ LeMahieu already owns one batting title. Should the Yankees infielder be clearing shelf space for a second?

LeMahieu stroked four hits in five at-bats, raising his average to an American League-leading .431 as the Yankees completed a two-game Interleague sweep of the Braves with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.

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"I feel pretty locked in right now," LeMahieu said. "I'm just part of a really good lineup and I'm just trying to do my part to get on base. If I get on base, I feel like we're in good shape to score runs. Just trying to be tough on the pitchers."

There were plenty of challenging at-bats to go around for Atlanta's hurlers. Clint Frazier homered as part of a three-hit performance in his season debut, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, and Gary Sánchez also went deep as the Bombers remained undefeated in the Bronx this season.

As in so many Yankees contests over the last year-plus, LeMahieu's understated efforts powered the day. Regarded as the club's most valuable player last season, when he earned the nickname "The Machine" for his robotic consistency, LeMahieu is off to another strong start as the Yanks approach the one-third mark of their schedule.

"He's a special hitter," said manager Aaron Boone. "He's a guy that uses the whole field, has pop, handles righties and lefties. He has tremendous bat-to-ball skills and does a great job of just laying the bat head in the zone for a really long time."

Playing behind Masahiro Tanaka's four-inning effort, the 32-year-old LeMahieu saved a run with a sliding grab on Adam Duvall's shift-beating infield hit in the third inning, then knocked in a run with a fifth-inning single before completing his night by legging out a seventh-inning triple.

Jonathan Loáisiga hurled two-plus scoreless innings to earn the victory, and Zack Britton recorded the final two outs for his seventh save in as many opportunities, sealing what was LeMahieu's second four-hit game of the season and his fifth as a Yankee.

Crowned as the 2016 National League batting champ (.348) while with the Rockies, LeMahieu has 28 hits in 65 at-bats as he aims to become the first undisputed batting champion in both leagues. Major League Baseball recognizes Hall of Famer "Big Ed" Delahanty as having won the 1899 (Phillies, NL) and 1902 (Senators, AL) titles, and Delahanty’s plaque at the National Baseball Hall of Fame lauds those accomplishments. Some sources retroactively credit Nap Lajoie as having edged Delahanty.

"It's early in the season; there's a lot of baseball to be played," LeMahieu said, "but I definitely have the same type of confidence [as in 2016], for sure. And the results are following as well."

Boone said that while some may view statistical achievements differently because they transpired in a shortened season, the unique nature of the 2020 campaign should also be considered.

"If DJ LeMahieu won the batting title, would anyone question that? I wouldn't," Boone said. "If he goes out and does it, people will think of it what they want. This year presents different challenges. I think any success you achieve over a 60-game period is going to be different, but it's impressive nonetheless, especially in the environment we're existing in."

Like former teammate Charlie Blackmon, who is off to a sensational start with the Rockies and paces the Majors with a .472 average, LeMahieu believes that being honored for an achievement in a shortened season should be worthy of celebration.

Perhaps LeMahieu should get some room ready at home, just in case.

"I think all the awards are valid," LeMahieu said. "We're all playing in the same situations. I think there will obviously be some surprises, but there are every year. I don't think it's discredited at all just because it's 60 games."