Before the Yankees celebrated one of their best wins of the season on Tuesday night, they nearly suffered a deflating loss that would have been summed up by a bizarre play from veteran DJ LeMahieu.
With the Yankees trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh, a rally brought LeMahieu to the plate with runners at the corners and just one out, and Yankee fans in attendance liking their chances of seeing the game tied, as LeMahieu’s steady bat and long history of success with runners in scoring position suggested that the two-time batting champ would at least find a way to get the ball to the outfield for a sac fly.
Instead, LeMahieu squared to bunt for a safety squeeze, then did it again on the next pitch, managing a bouncer right back to the mound, making for an easy out at the plate for the Orioles.
Yankee fans booed after the inning ended one batter later, and while those boos turned to loud cheers thanks to Aaron Judge’s game-tying home run in the ninth and Anthony Volpe’s walk-off sac fly in the 10th, LeMahieu’s bunt was still a topic of conversation after the game.
“I think just probably felt like he could get it buy the pitcher in that situation,” Aaron Boone said. “To know a heavy ground ball guy, he’d been grinding a little bit lately, so I didn’t have a problem with it, being a little aggressive and thinking worst case we’ll get that run in and get another guy in scoring position.
“Didn’t quite get it where we wanted to, but I have no issue with it.”
Asked by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic if LeMahieu was acting on his own in that situation, Boone bizarrely dismissed the question.
“Well,” Boone said, looking away. “You’ll never know.”
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