The New York Yankees got absolutely shut down Saturday night, falling 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS, but the biggest buzz in the ninth inning had nothing to do with the score. It was the return of Giancarlo Stanton, hitting as a pinch-hitter for the first time since April 24, and what manager Aaron Boone had to say about his five-pitch strikeout.
That 1-0 Loss Was a Hard Pill to Swallow
The rival Boston Red Sox got blown out in the Wild Card Series, but the Yankees faced a completely different beast in Game 1. Rays ace Drew Rasmussen locked them down, taking a no-hitter deep into the eighth inning before Austin Wells finally broke it up (by making an out at third). New York got one-hit in the postseason for the first time ever, which is just brutal. Yankees manager Aaron Boone straight up called losses “gut punches” after the game. It was a tough start to the ALDS, no doubt about it.
Stanton’s Comeback: A Calculated Risk That Didn’t Pay Off (Yet?)
So, Stanton finally stepped back into game action. The dude hadn’t played in the regular season since April 24, thanks to three separate calf injuries, two to his right calf, one to his left. He was on the postseason roster purely as a pinch-hitter, didn’t even show up in the Wild Card Series. But in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game, with the Yankees trailing, Boone sent him up for Ryan McMahon to lead off. McMahon’s a glove-first guy who didn’t hit much this year, and Rays closer Bryan Baker has those reverse splits, meaning righties like Stanton actually have more success against him than lefties like McMahon. Stanton, even after all that time off, is still a better bet for that game-tying blast. Plus, if he got on, 34-steal man José Caballero was ready to pinch-run. The at-bat itself? Not great. Baker struck Stanton out on five pitches. But the logic behind the move was totally sound.
Boone’s Wild Assessment: “I Liked What I Saw”
Here’s where it gets wild. Despite the strikeout, Boone was totally pumped about what he saw from Stanton. “I thought he had a really good at-bat,” Boone said. He even added, “I thought he was on all (five) pitches. I thought he was seeing the changeup well. I thought got a good swing off right out of the bat. I liked what I saw. He took the right at-bat. He just didn’t clip it.” The man was serious! Stanton’s been grinding through rehab, hitting against a high-velocity pitching machine and taking batting practice for weeks. That’s not the same as a ninth-inning postseason at-bat, obviously, but he’s done the prep work. Boone said he’s always going to take his shot with a hitter like that, especially with Caballero ready to run.
So, the Yankees are down 1-0 in the ALDS, feeling that Game 1 gut punch. But the big takeaway might be Boone’s belief in Giancarlo Stanton, even after a strikeout. Stanton is 36 now, played 24 games and hit .256/.302/.422 with three homers before his season-ending injuries. This probably isn’t his last appearance in the ALDS. Will Boone’s gamble pay off in a crucial Game 2? We’ll have to wait and see, but you know Boone isn’t afraid to take that shot again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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