YouTube · Abrir publicación original ↗
The New York Yankees started the American League Division Series with a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, in a match where pitching held New York with chances until the end, but the offense never found a way to respond.
Drew Rasmussen completely dominated the Yankees lineup, took a no-his game to the eighth inning and ended up allowing just one hit in eight blank innings. Jonathan Aranda produced the only race of the match with a home run against Gerrit Cole in the third entry.
in the program The Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed the lack of offensive production, the good performance of Cole, the decision of Austin Wells Trying to advance to third base and the adjustments that New York needs to make before game 2.
Rasmussen left the Yankees with no answers
The main story of Game 1 was the domain of Drew Rasmussen.
Tampa Bay's right-hander pitched eight innings without allowing runs, gave only one hit, gave two walks and struck out 10 batters. For much of the night, the Yankees could not even place a ball out of the Rays' defense range.
Rasmussen mixed his pitches accurately, shifted speeds, and prevented the New York offensive from setting a clear pattern from the batting box.
The difference from the previous round was evident. The Yankees came from scoring 18 runs in two games against Boston, but against Tampa Bay they could never build a rally.
A single hit, a brand that reflects the offensive night
The Yankees finished the match with only one hit, the least amount achieved by the franchise in any of their postseason matches.
That data explains better than any other what happened.
New York did not lose because Tampa Bay had an offensive explosion. The Rays also had a hard time producing and ended up with five hits. The difference was that they managed to turn one of those contacts into the race that decided the match.
The Yankees could never do the same.
Gerrit Cole did enough to keep the game alive
The defeat cannot be placed on Gerrit Cole.
The right-hander worked five innings, allowed five hits and a clean race, in addition to finishing with five strikeouts. The only damage came in the third inning, when Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer to right-centered.
After that hit, Cole prevented Tampa Bay from expanding the lead and kept the scoring within reach of the offense.
In a postseason match, only allowing one run for five innings should offer enough chance to compete. The problem was that the Yankees were never able to support him.
Austin Wells broke the no-hitter and then came the error
The play that generated the most conversation occurred with two outs in the eighth inning.
Austin Wells connected a strong line down the right field to break Rasmussen's no-hit attempt.
The hit was a double and placed the tie's potential career in scoring position.
But Wells decided to try to get to third base.
Tampa Bay's defense executed the relay and the Yankees receiver was eliminated, immediately finishing the inning.
On The Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed that decision because the benefit of reaching third with two outs was limited, while the risk was enormous.
Staying in the second, a single could tie the game. Trying to take the extra base, New York lost the only runner who had managed to put in a real danger position all night.
Guilt can't just fall on Wells
However, reducing the defeat to that move would be ignoring the main problem.
The Yankees got a single hit in nine innings.
Wells made an aggressive decision that ended badly, but the entire offense had had eight innings to generate opportunities before then.
When a computer produces so little, any error is magnified. That's one of the big differences in October: maybe no other chance will appear.
Aaron Judge's absence feels again
Aaron Judge He was left out of the roster of this divisional series as he continues to recover from his injury to his right calf.
The Yankees proved against Boston that they have enough depth to produce without their captain, so their absence cannot become an excuse.
But nights like this also remember the impact of not having one of the team's most dangerous hitters.
Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Luis Garcia Jr., Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells and the rest of the offense will have to assume that responsibility throughout the series.
Stanton had a chance in the ninth
Giancarlo Stanton He appeared as a pop-up hitter to start the ninth inning, but ended up striking out.
Afterwards, Ben Rice also struck out and Tampa Bay ended up closing the game without allowing the draw.
Stanton continues to be a power alternative from the bench, but the Yankees can't depend on a batter who comes from a long competitive absence to solve a match with a single turn.
Yankees need to change offensive approach
The adjustment for Game 2 has to start from the quality of the turns.
New York needs to work better the counts, control the strike zone, get runners and force the opposing pitcher to throw under pressure.
It will not always be possible to win by waiting for a three-run home run.
Against Tampa Bay, a single producer, a baseball base, a stolen base or a good running decision can make the difference between winning and losing.
That was precisely what was missing in the first meeting.
Cam Schlittler will take responsibility for Game 2
The series will continue on Monday and Cam Schlittler He will be in charge of opening for the Yankees.
The right one comes from an excellent presentation against Boston during the Wild Card and will now have the mission of trying to send the series to the Bronx tied.
But New York can't demand perfection.
Gerrit Cole allowed only one run and ended up carrying the defeat. If the offensive reproduces the same way, any opener will have very little margin of error.
The Yankists: Game 1 left a warning
For Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas, the match left a clear conclusion: the victory against Boston already belongs to the past.
Tampa Bay represents a different rival and Game 1 proved that every opportunity will have enormous value.
Cole kept the Yankees in the match.
The bullpen kept the score closed.
The defense did not make mistakes.
But New York did not produce a single career.
Now the Yankees are down 0-1 in a best-of-five series and the immediate goal is to return to Yankee Stadium with the tie tie.
Game 2 is no longer just another game. It is the opportunity to prevent Tampa Bay from taking full control of the series.
On The Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas will continue to analyze the decisions of Aaron Boone, the performance of the offensive and everything that happens during this divisional series.