New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. following a defensive miscue that led to a loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. The error occurred in the bottom of the 10th inning of Saturday's game in St. Petersburg. Boone dismissed suggestions that Chisholm was confused about the rules.
In the bottom of the 10th inning of Saturday's game, with the score tied 4-4 and bases loaded, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda hit a slow chopper toward Chisholm at second base. The Yankees had shifted to a five-man infield to induce a double play or force out at home, where speedy runner Chandler Simpson waited 90 feet away. Chisholm's bobble allowed Simpson to score the winning run, handing the Yankees a defeat and completing a three-game sweep by the Rays in St. Petersburg, extending New York's losing streak to five games ahead of Monday's matchup against the Angels. “It turns out to be a tough play,” Boone said Sunday. “Watching it back, there might have been a chance, if he gets it cleanly, he gets the tag off.” Post-game, Chisholm explained his thinking to reporters, debating whether to tag runner Yandy Díaz from first base before throwing to first, or throw first and then tag. “I don’t know what the rule is,” Chisholm said. Boone pushed back on perceptions of confusion. “He’s not confused,” the manager told reporters. “I think that’s his kind of default answer when he’s got reporters in front of him. He’s not a dumb guy. It’s just sometimes how you present yourself in certain situations, and coupled with he’s off to a little bit of a slow start.” Chisholm, an All-Star entering his first full season with the Yankees after a 30-30 campaign last year, is batting .179 with a .501 OPS through 15 games. Defensively, he ranks in the 96th percentile with +2 outs above average at second base.
