Leading by two in to start the ninth inning, the Yankees nearly allowed the leadoff runner to reach with some lackluster defense that had become all-too familiar this season.
Instead, the potential error turned into a crucial first out, thanks to the vacuum of Anthony Rizzo at first place.
Rizzo was brought in at the trade deadline just as much for his elite defense in addition to his powerful lefty bat, and he has been flashing the leather right away, scooping out a low throw from Rougned Odor to deny the Mariners a chance to bring the tying run to the plate.
For an infield that has struggled defensively all season, Rizzo, who leads all first baseman in Outs Above Average this season (per Statcast) has been a saving grace already in the field.
“I think it’s comforting, knowing you’ve got someone who is really elite at that,” Aaron Boone said. “Rizz has told them, ‘Just get it to me, I’ll catch it.’ I definitely think there’s some comfort that comes with that.”
Rizzo showed off that elite glove by saving Odor from a throwing error at third base, as Odor slowly charged and backhanded a slow roller, then rushed the throw before being bailed out by the new Yankee first baseman.
“It was a really good play,” Boone said. “Rougie got a pretty good throw off but was a little slow to get to the ball and Rizz dug it out, like he’s been doing all week, or for the last decade, I guess.”
Odor, new to third base with Gio Urshela on the IL, played his first big-league game at third earlier this week, and promptly threw a ball away for an error. But Rizzo calmed him down with the reassurance that as long as he, and the rest of the infielders, put the ball where he can reach it, it will be caught.
“The first day they put me there I had never played third base in the big league before,” Odor said. “He was like ‘Hey Rougie, just throw the ball, I’ll catch everything. Don’t worry about where you throw it. I’m gonna be there. I’m gonna catch everything.’
“He gave me a lot of confidence. To have a guy like him at first base is really big. Everyone can see it. He’s been catching balls that aren’t easy to catch, and he makes it look really easy. So he’s gonna help us a lot.”
Rizzo certainly helped on Thursday night. When his streak of six straight games with an RBI to begin his Yankee tenure came to an end, he showed the value he possesses even when he isn’t thriving at the plate.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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