Newz(AP) — Sloppy defense put the New York Yankees on the brink of elimination.Four errors and another defensive miscue led to three unearned runs that a lineup missing three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge couldn't overcome in a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of their AL Division Series on Monday night.The Yankees are one loss from falling short of a 28th World Series title for the 17th straight season.Even with likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler on the mound, the Yankees couldn't even the best-of-five series against the pesky Rays.The small-ball Rays chased Schlittler in the fifth, aided by New York’s miscues in the field as the Yankees' defense unraveled the same way it did in the team's most recent World Series game two years ago against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Jonathan Aranda lined a single off Schlittler to start the bottom of the fifth and Junior Caminero ripped a double to right-center. With the infield drawn-in except second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was standing several feet further back on the dirt, Liam Hicks hit a slow bouncer to second that scored Aranda for a 2-1 lead. Chisholm’s only play was at first because he wasn’t all the way in like the rest of the infielders.Chandler Simpson then hit a grounder that rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr.
booted, scoring Caminero to make it 3-1. It was initially ruled a hit and then changed to an error and eventually a fielder’s choice. Brent Headrick replaced Schlittler and struck out Victor Mesa Jr.
After Simpson stole second, Jonny DeLuca reached on a grounder when Lombard’s throw to first was wide for New York’s fourth error.Richie Palacios followed with a two-run single to center that increased Tampa Bay’s lead to 5-1.Ben Rice connected for his second homer of the game in the eighth but that wasn't enough.The night started poorly for the Yankees. New York became the first team to commit three errors in the first inning of a postseason game since the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1975 American League Championship Series against Boston, according to Sportsnet Stats.Third baseman Ryan McMahon misplayed a bouncer by Yandy Díaz to begin the bottom of the first. After Aranda singled, Caminero hit a bouncer up the middle.
Lombard fielded the ball behind the bag and flipped to second for a forceout, but Chisholm’s ill-advised, off-balance throw to first sailed wide, a… (AP) — Richie Palacios hit a two-run single in a four-run fifth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of New York's sloppy defense, beating Cam Schlittler and the Yankees 5-2 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.The Rays are one victory from reaching the American League Championship Series. Game 3 in the best-of-five playoff is Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.Ben Rice hit a pair of homers for the Yankees, who are on the verge of elimination — which would extend their World Series drought to 17 seasons.
They were dominated by Drew Rasmussen in the series opener and have scored just two runs in two games with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge out of the lineup due to a calf injury.The small-ball Rays chased Schlittler, the likely AL Cy Young Award winner, in the fifth aided by New York's defensive miscues.Jonathan Aranda lined a single to start the inning and Junior Caminero ripped a double to right-center. Bryan Baker finished with a perfect ninth for his second save in two games.Schlittler, who was 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and dominated Boston in the opener of the wild-card round, lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs — two earned — and six hits.
Schlittler only fanned two.Rice sent a 2-2 changeup into the right-field seats to tie it at 1 in the fourth, ending New York's scoreless dro…
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