The Yankees dropped a brutal 2-1 game to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, and the gut punch came straight from Trent Grisham’s bizarre baserunning decision in the bottom of the eighth. Seriously, you gotta see this play. With the Yankees down by just one run, Grisham was on first base when Ben Rice absolutely mashed a double into right-center field. Every fan in the stadium, every coach, every single person watching knew Grisham had to score here.
The Play That Just Blew It
You’re watching Grisham get waved around, right? Full steam ahead! Dodgers centerfielder Andy Pages made a throw toward the infield, and it wasn’t even on the money. Then Mookie Betts, who is everywhere all the time, scooped it up, made this wild, on-the-run throw from shortstop to the plate. Betts’ throw was picture-perfect. The ball arrived right as Grisham was sliding in, and Dalton Rushing tagged him out. Just like that, the lead held for L.A., and that 2-1 score stuck as the final. How does a guy get thrown out like that when he’s waved around, the initial throw is off, and you have a clear path? It just doesn’t make sense.
This Isn’t A One-Off Baserunning Blunder, Folks
Here’s the thing that makes this even more frustrating: this isn’t some random fluke. Grisham plays centerfield well, sure, and you’d expect a guy with that kind of speed to be a threat on the bases. But he’s not! The numbers are screaming it. He ranks in the bottom-10 across the entire league when it comes to taking extra bases. Let that sink in. Bottom-10! And if you really want to tear your hair out, consider this:
- As a Yankee, since 2024, Grisham has been on first base when a double was hit 21 times in the regular season.
- He has scored on those 21 plays exactly TWICE.
He almost never goes from first-to-home on a double. That’s a 2-for-21 success rate, which is just absolutely mind-boggling for a guy you expect to be a good baserunner. This isn’t just about one bad read. This is a pattern. It’s a skill that often goes unnoticed when done well, but when it’s done this poorly, and it directly costs you a game like it did on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
What This Means for the Grind Ahead
Losing a tight game 2-1 on a baserunning error is a gut punch, especially when it’s a consistent issue. When every run counts, you need every player on that field to be making smart, aggressive, and effective plays. This isn’t just a tough loss; it’s a glaring symptom of a larger problem that cost them a crucial win. Fans need to be watching how this plays out, because in the grind of the regular season, these are the moments that truly add up. You can’t leave runs on the basepaths when games are decided by a single score.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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