The New York Yankees turned in a defensive performance unworthy of the postseason on Tuesday night, committing four errors — three of them in the first inning alone — on the way to a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.
The miscues, which manager Aaron Boone's club paired with other mistakes in the field, left the Yankees facing elimination in the series. The result was described as a "really rough night" for the Bronx Bombers, according to www.espn.com - TOP.
New York's three first-inning errors set the tone early, gifting the Rays extra opportunities before the game had settled into a rhythm. By the time the final out was recorded, the Yankees had matched that total with a fourth error later in the contest.
The defensive collapse overshadowed the rest of the game for a team that entered the series with expectations of a deep October run. Instead, the Yankees now trail the Rays and must win to keep their season alive.
For local fans who have followed the club through the regular season, the performance represented a jarring departure from the standard the team had set. Postseason baseball is unforgiving of extra outs, and the Yankees provided the Rays with plenty of them.
The series now shifts to a must-win situation for New York, with the Rays holding the advantage after the 5-2 final. Further details on the Yankees' elimination scenario were reported by www.espn.com - TOP.
