Closer problems for the Yankees, Again

Tampa, FLA — That was depressing. The Yankees had a four run lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning. Devin Williams got the first batter to ground out, but an E5 sent the inning into a spiral. He then walked the nine hitter, Ben Rortvedt (who has done nothing offensive until the Yankees came to town) and allowed a Ground-Rule double, an infield single, a stolen base, another base hit and then Cabrera made a great play to turn a double play.

The Yankees then went to extras and from the get go looked awful. Grisham lead off the inning with a single, and third base coach Luis Rojas decided not to send Anthony Volpe. It was at that point I knew we would lose the game. Then pathetic at-bats by Bellinger (who is lost at the plate), Cabrera and Escarra sent the game to the bottom of the tenth.

When asked about the no-send, Manager Aaron Boone said:

(YES Network):

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

This is mainly because there were no outs. Still, stupid not to send. Keep the pressure on the Rays.

All it would have taken was a single, but Aranda hit Gomez’ third pitch out for a Home Run. Yes, the same Aranda who was helped off the field earlier in the game after a scary injury. Funny how that stuff comes back to haunt you.

Even if the Yankees won this game, it was because of their offense, which for some reason, goes SILENT in extra innings. In three innings of free baseball this season, against the Pirates and Rays, the Yankees have scored ZERO fucking runs in extras. Reminder: that start with a runner on second, and these shitheads can’t get the runner in. SAD.

The Yankees in general since 2021, when the Extra-Inning runner was brought to the regular season, the Yankees are 11-24 in extras on the road. That is not indicative on just the players approach, but on the coaching staff managing and lack of situational hitting.

The Offense did jump all over Shane Baz all game, who was two outs away from suffering his first loss against the Yankees in his career. The offense did a good job tacking on runs late to try to put the game away, but you look to at-bats earlier in the game by Volpe and Chisholm with runners in scoring position and they can’t get the job done.

The Yankees bullpen until Devin Williams was nails, again. Luke Weaver is the best reliever the Yankees have and is not used properly. I have had ENOUGH of sending Williams out their. He needs to be moved until he gets his mojo back. This is a game the Yankees had to have, and they gave it away with a bow.

Instead of going for a sweep tomorrow, now you send your Ace, Max Fried out to try and win the series.

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