In a challenging game against the Braves on Friday night, the New York Yankees faced a 7-3 defeat that was marred by a critical baserunning error from rookie third baseman Jorbit Vivas. The incident occurred in the third inning when Vivas attempted to advance from second base on a fly ball hit by Cody Bellinger. Despite the opportunity, he was tagged out by a precise throw from Ronald Acuña Jr., resulting in a costly double play that ended the inning with Aaron Judge waiting on deck.
Reflecting on the play, Vivas acknowledged his mistake, attributing the misjudgment to his deceleration as he approached third base. “That’s on me,” he stated, emphasizing that it was his responsibility to secure the base. Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone noted that Vivas was deceived by the body language of Braves’ third baseman Nacho Alvarez. Boone, a former third baseman himself, advised Vivas to learn from the experience and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
On a more positive note, the Yankees are seeing progress with their injured relief pitchers. Mark Leiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz are both on the mend, with Leiter potentially returning to mound duty soon. Cruz is expected to start a throwing program this weekend, signaling a step closer to his return following a high-grade oblique strain earlier in the season. Additionally, Luis Gil is performing well on his rehabilitation assignments, indicating that the Yankees may soon have more options in their pitching lineup.
In a strategic move, the Yankees will be calling up Allan Winans to fill the roster spot left by Rico Garcia, who was designated for assignment. This decision signifies the team’s commitment to boosting their strength as they navigate through the remainder of the season.
The Yankees remain hopeful and focused, demonstrating resilience amidst challenges, ready to learn from their missteps and continue pushing forward in the competitive landscape of baseball.