Former Uber driver J.C. Escarra gives pitch a ride for first major league home run

NEW YORK (AP) — An Uber driver a little more than two years ago, J.C. Escarra gave a pitch a ride into Yankee Stadium's bleachers for his first major league home run.

“I didn't feel the ball off the bat,” the rookie said after his drive Sunday capped New York's 11-2, 5-1 doubleheader sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. “I felt amazing — amazing. And it was special because the first MLB home run and I did it here at home at Yankee Stadium.”

Escarra, who turned 30 on Thursday, was out of baseball when the Baltimore Orioles released him in 2022. He took detours to teams in Mexico and Puerto Rico, did part-time work as an Uber driver and substitute teacher and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season.

He earned a job on the opening day roster as catcher Austin Wells' backup, got his first hit when he made his first start on April 3 and homered in his seventh start behind the plate. Escarra singled in a run against Brendon Little in the three-run sixth inning, then sent a Chad Green slider 415 feet into the right-center bleachers in the eighth.

“You could see the glow. You could see the joy that he’s bringing in those moments," reliever Luke Weaver said. “Just letting him know, like, `Hey, sick homer." And it's like he just lights up.”

Escarra got the ball back from a fan in exchange for an autographed bat and is giving the ball to his father, who grew up a Yankees fan in Yonkers.

“This is my team. This is my family’s team. It’s a dream come true, and I’m doing everything as a Yankee so it can’t get better than this," Escarra said. “If you would have asked me two years ago that I’ll be here doing this, I’ll tell you that you’re lying.”

Escarra is hitting .200 with three RBIs in 25-bats.

“We were smiling, jumping around and just really excited for a guy like that who who works hard and obviously you can tell just appreciates the moment and just doesn’t take anything for granted," starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt said. "Those guys, they’re easy to root for.”

Pitchers have praised Escarra's framing ability.

“He’s got a really good presence behind the plate,” Weaver said. “You got to steal some strikes and get as many as we can because we sure appreciate it. He's a natural at it. He’s worked really hard at it and he’s right where he needs to be.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees' J.C. Escarra, right, reacts with Oswaldo Cabrera, left, after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Yankees' J.C. Escarra, left, reacts after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)