CLEVELAND — Anthony Rizzo made 4 errors throughout 92 video games final season and is often a gradual hand at first base.
However the Yankees’ veteran, a four-time Gold Glove winner, had an uncharacteristic day with two fielding errors Sunday in an 8-7 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Subject.
That now has his tally as much as 4 errors via 16 video games this season.
“[He’s] been OK,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “Normally he’s so good. He’s in all probability not scooped a pair balls over at first that he sometimes would. However I believe that’s only a couple performs. I anticipate the identical elite protection we normally get.”
Neither error led to a run, however they compelled Nestor Cortes to throw some further pitches on a day when he solely lasted four-plus innings on 94 pitches.
Rizzo made up for it within the tenth inning when he delivered a two-run single to present the Yankees a 7-5 lead, although it was nonetheless not sufficient to finish a sweep of the Guardians.
Rizzo’s first error got here within the first inning, when he dropped a low throw from third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera.
Then within the second inning, he ranged to his proper for Andres Gimenez’s floor ball that ate him up, although it might have been a detailed play at first with Cortes masking even when Rizzo had fielded it cleanly.
“We acquired a variety of particular gamers round that infield, particularly beginning at first base with a man like Anthony Rizzo, a Platinum Glove winner,” Aaron Decide mentioned after two extra defensive miscues by Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe within the backside of the tenth. “Days like right this moment occur. Gotta be taught from it and transfer on. I believe everyone on this crew is aware of that’s one in every of our strengths is our infield protection and what they will do. So simply gotta transfer on.”
Nestor Cortes has been recognized to drag a number of tips out of his sleeve, however even for him this was new.
On an 0-2 pitch to Gimenez within the second inning, Cortes stalled in the course of his supply however then added in a pump pretend earlier than throwing a sweeper that Gimenez fouled off.
“Nothing is de facto deliberate after I go on the market,” Cortes mentioned. “That’s sort of what I simply considered within the second. Thought it was sort of humorous, sort of labored for me.”
Cortes’ excessive pitch depend knocked him out of the sport after four-plus innings.
The Guardians fouled off 26 pitches however the lefty additionally mentioned he tried to be too high-quality with the corners and wasn’t getting sufficient early contact in play.
“I assumed he ran out of gasoline,” Boone mentioned.
DJ LeMahieu’s rehab task might start by the top of the week.
The veteran third baseman will proceed on to Toronto with the Yankees for his or her three-game sequence, however Boone indicated that LeMahieu might be in line to play in rehab video games after they return to The Bronx.
“I believe that’s very potential,” Boone mentioned. “Once we get again from Toronto, I believe that’s in all probability in play.”
LeMahieu has been sidelined since fouling a ball off his proper foot and struggling a non-displaced fracture on March 16.
Austin Wells took floor balls and throws at first base earlier than Sunday’s recreation.
The rookie catcher has impressed the Yankees together with his protection as a part of a tandem with Jose Trevino, however with Cabrera now dealing with on a regular basis third-base duties, the Yankees lack a backup first baseman behind Rizzo.
