Rays beat Yankees 5-2 for 2-0 ALDS lead as New York commits four errors

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 5-2 on Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, taking a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series, MLB said in a post on X. MLB also said the Rays are one win away from the ALCS. [2][4]

The Yankees committed four errors, three of them in the first inning, ESPN reported. The first came when third baseman Ryan McMahon misplayed a routine ground ball. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. then made a wild throw on a possible double play, allowing a run to score. Catcher Austin Wells was also called for catcher's interference. [5]

Tampa Bay scored four runs in the fifth inning to pull away, ESPN reported. Shortstop George Lombard Jr. made the fourth error on a throw to first base during that inning. The official scorer initially ruled one play there an error, then changed it to a single, back to an error and finally to a fielder's choice, according to ESPN. [5]

Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, the presumptive AL Cy Young Award winner according to ESPN, was pulled with one out in the fourth inning after 76 pitches. He allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out two batters. ESPN reported that this tied a career low. [5]

ESPN senior writer Jeff Passan said in a post on X that Schlittler's two strikeouts were the fewest in any of his 35 starts this season. Passan also noted that the Rays had the lowest strikeout rate in MLB this year. [3]

"I feel like we beat ourselves today in a lot of ways," Chisholm said. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Schlittler: "Cam did his job. We didn't give him a good enough chance to do his job." [5]

Yankees slugger Ben Rice hit solo home runs in the fourth and eighth innings, ESPN reported. The Yankees return home for Game 3 on Wednesday. Passan wrote that New York needs to win three straight to salvage its season. [1][5]