The New York Yankees own far and away the best run-differential in the American League, nearly 100 better than the second-best Tampa Rays. They lead MLB in home runs and rank in the top-five in runs scored, RBIs, walks, stolen bases, slugging percentage and OPS. Their lineup is more versatile and athletic than fans are accustomed to seeing, and their deep starting pitching rotation has boosted the team to the top ERA in the sport. Amid constant pressure to thrive in October, this club looks balanced and dangerous. But it still has a major flaw.
Defensive/mental lapses plagued the Yankees over the last couple of seasons, and they were the first-place squad’s undoing on Thursday night. New York was incomprehensibly sloppy in a 6-3 road loss versus the bottom-barrel Boston Red Sox, and shockingly, none of those six runs were charged to the pitching staff.
The Yankees committed four errors, with third baseman Amed Rosario, catcher Austin Wells, right-handed reliever Yerry De Los Santos and Cy Young contender Cam Schlittler serving as the culprits. This fielding catastrophe marked the first time since July 21, 1913 that the franchise allowed six or more unearned runs and zero earned runs, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Is this historic error-palooza a wake-up call for Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone?
It is hard to say. Perhaps they can improve with a couple adjustments or trade deadline maneuvers.
New York has taken control of the AL in Aaron Judge’s absence, but it must now shake off this jarring result and regain its composure moving into July. The Yankees (48-32) and Red Sox (33-46) will collide in Fenway Park on Friday for the second of four games, beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET.
The post Yankees’ 4-error disaster in Red Sox loss sets franchise first in last 113 years appeared first on ClutchPoints.
