Yankees' Defensive Blunders Plague ALDS Game 2 Against Rays
The New York Yankees committed three errors and four misplays in a chaotic first inning, allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to score one run in Game 2 of the ALDS.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The New York Yankees committed three errors and four misplays during a calamitous bottom of the first inning in ALDS Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays, ultimately allowing just one run, largely due to the efforts of pitcher Cam Schlittler. The Yankees' defensive performance at Tropicana Field appeared uncharacteristic, especially after playing clean defense in the previous game.
The trouble began on Schlittler's second pitch when third baseman Ryan McMahon appeared to misjudge the turf bounce of a ball chopped by Yandy Díaz, resulting in an error. The situation worsened when, after a Jonathan Aranda single, Junior Caminero hit a grounder up the middle. George Lombard Jr. fielded the ball and made a backhand flip to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. However, Chisholm's wild throw to first base was off-target, allowing Díaz to score and Caminero to advance to second base.
Further compounding the inning, Schlittler appeared to strike out Liam Hicks, but the pitch was ruled catcher's interference when Austin Wells' glove made contact with Hicks' bat. With runners on first and second, Chandler Simpson hit a ground ball to Chisholm, who fielded it and rushed a throw to Lombard. Lombard came off the base to catch the ball and lunged back to secure the out just in time.
Simpson then grounded to Chisholm, who fielded the ball cleanly and threw to first base without incident. Schlittler managed to escape the inning after facing 19 pitches, with the Yankees' defensive struggles resulting in one run scored by the Rays.