
The New York Yankees blew a one-run lead late in their 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. However, it wasn't so much about losing the game as about how they lost it.
The Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th, with the slow Jonathan Aranda at the plate, the speedy Chandler Simpson at third and Cody Bellinger moving to play with a five-man infield.
Aranda hit a chopper toward Yankees 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. Bellinger leaped in front of him to try to field the hit, but couldn't. Chisholm then failed to field the ball after a high bounce, so he missed a chance to make a play at second and then throw Aranda out at first base.
Following the loss, the Yankees second baseman admitted that he was quite confused about the rules and what he could have done.
"I was really going to go try to tag the runner and just throw it to first. I don't know what the rule is. If I went to first base first and threw it back to second, if it's still an out. Is it still a double play? I don't know. Does it count as not an RBI?" Chisholm wondered, per reporter Bryan Hoch.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., explaining the final play: "I was really going to go try to tag the runner and just throw it to first. I don't know what the rule is. If I went to first base first and threw it back to second, if it's still an out. Is it still a double play? I don't know. Does…
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) April 12, 2026
While he probably had the right idea, given that his only chance was to tag Yandy Diaz at second and throw Aranda out at first, the fact that a professional MLB player making $10.2 million this year and with seven years of experience doesn't know the rules speaks volumes about a greater problem.
Chisholm has been at the eye of the storm this season for his struggles at the plate and his behavior on social media, and this certainly won't do much to help his case. The Yankees are now 8-6 for the season and will try to avoid a sweep on Sunday with Cam Schlittler taking the mound against Drew Rasmussen.
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