The New York Yankees' defence collapsed on Monday night as four errors — three of them on the first four batters — handed the Tampa Bay Rays a 5-2 win at Tropicana Field and a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series.
The night began unraveling immediately. Ryan McMahon's error on a ball hit to him by Yandy Díaz opened the game, and the Yankees never recovered. Three of Tampa's five runs were unearned, with the Yankees' gloves and bats both failing in St. Petersburg.
A night to forget in the Bronx-bound series
Junior Caminero grounded to shortstop George Lombard Jr., whose backhanded flip forced the runner at second — but Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s throw went wide of first base, allowing Díaz to score. The Rays then successfully challenged a missed catcher's interference call on Austin Wells. Four batters, three errors, one run.
"We've got to play catch," manager Aaron Boone said. "It's the big leagues."
Cam Schlittler, the presumptive AL Cy Young winner, got only 13 outs — the shortest postseason start of his career — spending most of his night pitching with runners his defence had put on base. "Obviously it starts with me," Schlittler said afterward. "I'll be the first one to say that I didn't do my job, but it didn't seem like we really showed up today."
The Yankees' offence, playing without Aaron Judge on the roster because of a strained calf, offered no rescue. New York has scored just two runs in two games, both of them solo home runs by Ben Rice.
For the Rays, it was another step toward a series upset as the teams head to the Bronx.
Sources:
- USA Today: Four errors bury Yankees as Rays carry 2-0 ALDS lead to the Bronx
The night began unraveling immediately. Ryan McMahon's error on a ball hit to him by Yandy Díaz opened the game, and the Yankees never recovered. Three of Tampa's five runs were unearned, with the Yankees' gloves and bats both failing in St. Petersburg.
A night to forget in the Bronx-bound series
Junior Caminero grounded to shortstop George Lombard Jr., whose backhanded flip forced the runner at second — but Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s throw went wide of first base, allowing Díaz to score. The Rays then successfully challenged a missed catcher's interference call on Austin Wells. Four batters, three errors, one run.
"We've got to play catch," manager Aaron Boone said. "It's the big leagues."
Cam Schlittler, the presumptive AL Cy Young winner, got only 13 outs — the shortest postseason start of his career — spending most of his night pitching with runners his defence had put on base. "Obviously it starts with me," Schlittler said afterward. "I'll be the first one to say that I didn't do my job, but it didn't seem like we really showed up today."
The Yankees' offence, playing without Aaron Judge on the roster because of a strained calf, offered no rescue. New York has scored just two runs in two games, both of them solo home runs by Ben Rice.
For the Rays, it was another step toward a series upset as the teams head to the Bronx.
Sources:
- USA Today: Four errors bury Yankees as Rays carry 2-0 ALDS lead to the Bronx
