VIDEO: Yankees-Indians Headed to Extras After Didi Gregorius Boots Routine Grounder With 2 Outs
By Michael Luciano
Even after surrendering home runs to the likes of Jake Bauers and Mike Freeman, a Clint Frazier sac fly put the Yankees up 6-5 heading into the ninth. That means Aroldis Chapman and his 101 MPH fastball would slam the door shut, right? With two on and two out, a Francisco Lindor grounder looked like the final play of a Yankees' win. That is, until the usually steady glove of Didi Gregorius malfunctioned and he booted the ball into left field.
Something you don't see often: Didi Gregorius boots a grounder with two strikes and two outs, and this game is all tied up again. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/jL1C5httXi
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) June 9, 2019
With Lindor at the plate and runners in scoring position, a ground ball to your best defensive infielder is literally exactly what Aaron Boone wanted. Between Didi's defense and the bullpen melting down, there must be something weird in the water at Progressive Field.
Hand the lead to Chapman, ground ball with two outs in the 9th hit to Didi. You’d draw it up that way every time. #thatsbaseballsuzyn
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) June 9, 2019
It's almost like the Yankees have been trying to lose this game to allow Tampa Bay to leapfrog them in the standings. That's the only plausible explanation.