The New York Yankees are on the brink of elimination after Monday night's 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, with their error-filled performance putting them squarely in the New York Post's crosshairs.
The newspaper used a Taylor Swift reference for its Tuesday back page, labeling the Yankees' performance the “ERRORS TOUR” in a play on Swift's hugely popular Eras Tour. The jab came after New York committed four errors, tying for the second-most in franchise postseason history across 448 playoff games.
Three of the Yankees' errors came during a disastrous first inning. Ryan McMahon misplayed a grounder from Yandy Diaz before Jazz Chisholm Jr. made an off-balance throw that sailed past first baseman Luis García Jr., allowing Diaz to score. Austin Wells was then charged with catcher's interference when Liam Hicks reached after appearing to strike out.
The three first-inning errors made New York the first team since the Athletics in Game 1 of the 1975 AL Championship Series to commit three errors in the opening inning of a postseason game, according to Sportsnet Stats.
New York's defense hurt the team again in the fifth. George Lombard Jr. committed an error on a grounder from Chandler Simpson, allowing Junior Caminero to score. Lombard later made another errant throw that allowed Jonny DeLuca to reach, setting the stage for Richie Palacios' two-run single that pushed Tampa Bay's lead to 5-1.
Cam Schlittler, the Yankees' likely AL Cy Young Award winner, was charged with four runs, two earned, over 4 1/3 innings. He gave up six hits and struck out two over 76 pitches, with the defensive miscues contributing to an elevated pitch count.
Article Continues BelowNew York managed only four hits, with Ben Rice accounting for two of them via solo home runs. Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells recorded the Yankees' other hits. Rice finished with two homers and two RBIs, while McMahon and Rice each drew a walk, leaving New York with six total baserunners.
The Yankees had also been shut out 1-0 in Game 1 and have scored only two runs across the first two games. Aaron Judge has been absent from New York's lineup because of a calf injury.
The Rays now lead the best-of-five series 2-0. The Yankees were also swept into a 2-0 hole in last year's ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays before winning Game 3 and eventually losing Game 4.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, where New York must win to keep the series alive. The Yankees would then need to win Game 4 to force a winner-take-all Game 5 back in St. Petersburg, Florida.