The Yankees were holding a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth in a game they had to have, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa booted a routine grounder off the bat of Mike Trout that seemed ticketed for the second out of the inning.
Instead, the go-ahead run came to the plate, and the very next batter was Shohei Ohtani, who blasted a three-run home run in an eventual 3-2 win, the true difference maker in another brutal New York loss.
“Just got behind it and just missed it,” Kiner-Falefa said. “No excuses. Play needs to be made in a big spot in the game, and it cost us the game. Not happy about it. Nothing I can do now, but definitely feel bad for Gerrit.”
The misplay led to plenty of criticism from Yankee fans, who noted his long-slumping bat at the plate that isn’t able to cover up some of his defensive struggles. He now has 12 errors on the season, tied for the ninth most among shortstops, and is -2 OAA ranks 24th out of 37. But based on defensive runs saved, he is fourth best among shortstops this season, per the YES Network.
Kiner-Falefa w/MLB SS ranks
— Seth Rothman (@SethDRothman) September 1, 2022
Outs above average -2 24th of 37
Errors 12 T-9th most
Fielding% .973 15th of 23
*According to The Fielding Bible, his +12 DRS is 4th-best among MLB SS this season
Boone says Kiner-Falefa’s defense shows that the latter stat is more accurate.
“He’s been one of the best defenders in the league at shortstop,” Boone said. “Shortstop, infielders, you make an error every now and then. How many is that? It’s a play he should make obviously, but he’s been one of the best defenders in the league out there. Didn’t make the play that time.”
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