The Yankees were one win away from capturing the American League East division, but one hit error from Gleyber Torres may have deprived them of the opportunity to do so.
Down 4-2 in the seventh inning, with runners on second and third and two outs, Juan Soto hit a single to right field and drove in one run, but Torres held on at third base. The outfield throw came in the home game, but Adley Rutschman threw to second base after Soto successfully advanced.
Torres, however, was halfway to home plate when the shortstop Gunnar Henderson threw the ball back to Rutschman, who put the Yankees second baseman in a rundown.
Torres was eventually eliminated, ending the Yankees’ threat.
“I was just trying to protect Soto,” Torres said after the game. “In that situation, just protect him. I was kind of in the middle of it going to home plate, I feel like I went a little late, and then they took me out.”
“He initially thought Juan might be in the second position, so he is trying to protect him,” the manager said. Aaron Boone said. “It’s got to be a bluff or a sell-out and go. It’s the equalizing run there.”
The way out on the base paths has also left Aaron Rechterwho earlier in the game hit his 56th home run of the season, on deck. The Yankees would allow just one more baserunner in the final two innings before their eventual 5-3 loss.
It was also Torres’ sixth of the season at home, tied for the most in the majors with Tampa Bay’s Jandy Diaz.
“It might have just been a little miscommunication, but he was rushing the whole way,” Judge said of the play. “I think he wanted the score and got the stop sign and was just in no man’s land. When it comes down to it, things like that can’t happen. We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot with mistakes like that on the bases. But it happened and we’ve got to move on and get ready for tomorrow.”
“I need to be a little bit more aggressive,” Torres said. “If I make that decision, go steal that run right away. That’s my mistake and just be ready for tomorrow.”
The blunder overshadows how great Torres has been for the Yankees at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in Tuesday’s loss.
In his last seven games, Torres is 12-for-33 (.364) with a home run and four RBI. He also reached base safely in 22 of his last 23 games. He’s doing all of this while becoming the leadoff hitter the Yankees have been missing for most of the season.
Since moving to the leadoff position on Aug. 16, Torres is hitting .320/.392/.463 with five homers, six doubles and 18 RBI. To erase Tuesday’s critical error, Torres will need to keep hitting and help the Yankees win another game and clinch the division.
The Yankees get another chance against the same Orioles on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
