Torres’ backhanded stab sinks Yankees in loss against Cubs

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On a bright Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field, longtime friends and former Yankees teammates Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon locked horns in a classic pitchers’ duel, matching each other inning for inning over six tense frames. But in a game where runs were at a premium, one moment in the first inning proved decisive.

A fielding error by Yankees’ Gleyber Torres at second base set the stage for Isaac Paredes to deliver a two-out, bases-loaded single, driving in two unearned runs. Those runs were all the Chicago Cubs needed to edge out the Yankees 2-1, as both pitchers dominated the rest of the way.

Despite the setback, the Yankees left Chicago with a series win and a narrow half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the tight American League East race.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed frustration at missing the chance for a sweep against a tough opponent, but he stressed the importance of quickly turning the page and focusing on the upcoming critical homestand.

“(We) had an opportunity to sweep a good club that’s playing well,” Boone told, “(Stinks), but we’ve got to get home and start a big homestand”.

Torres’ mistake costs Yankees series sweep

Gerrit Cole leaned on his dominant fastball to navigate through a strong outing, but the game’s tone shifted after a miscue in the first inning. Torres misplayed a sharply hit grounder from Cody Bellinger, allowing an awkward hop to get the best of him. The error turned what should have been an inning-ending play into a pivotal moment in the Yankees’ loss.

Torres acknowledged the challenging nature of the play, a sentiment shared by the Yankees manager. While Boone noted the difficulty of the bounce, he suggested Torres could have reacted quicker, charging in to handle the ball on a short hop.

“It’s all about making quick reads off the bat,” Boone said, emphasizing the need for decisive action in such scenarios.

With a runner on first and two outs in the opening frame, the Yankees second baseman found himself at a crossroads as Bellinger’s hard-hit two-hopper zipped just to his right. Faced with a choice—hang back and risk Bellinger’s speed beating the throw or charge aggressively—Torres hesitated, ultimately mishandling the ball. His recovery throw to second was too late, allowing the inning to continue.

Torres admitted postgame that he had a chance to make the play, despite Bellinger’s well-struck ball, but couldn’t come through.

“Bellinger hit it very well,” the Yankees infielder explained. “I just wanted to try to stop it. I think I had a chance to make the play and unfortunately I missed it.”

The Cubs capitalized on the extended inning. Former Yankee Mike Tauchman worked a gritty 10-pitch walk against Cole, loading the bases. Isaac Paredes then delivered a clutch single to left-center, driving in two unearned runs that ultimately decided the game.

Those runs were all the Cubs needed in a 2-1 win over the Yankees, illustrating how one defensive lapse can tip the scales in a tightly contested game dominated by pitching.

After the game, Yankees’ Torres reflected on his first-inning fielding error, expressing a desire to handle the play differently if given another chance. While acknowledging the play’s difficulty, he emphasized his commitment to improving his defensive skills. “It was a tough play, but if I got another opportunity I’d try to make it,” he told.

The error was Torres’ second of the series and 17th of the season, the most among major league second basemen. Although some of his previous miscues have been particularly noticeable, Yankees manager Boone fended Torres in this instance, pointing out the challenging nature of the play.

Boone detailed the complexities of the situation, noting the sharply hit ball demanded split-second decision-making. The Yankees skipper explained the importance of reading the ball off the bat and committing to either stepping back to create a long hop or charging in for a short hop. Boone stressed that Bellinger’s speed added pressure, making hesitation costly and leading to the difficult in-between hop Torres faced.

“That’s a tough play because it’s hit sharp, but it’s bounding,” the Yankees manager said. “You’ve got to read it right off the bat and commit to that short hop. Infielders, it’s all about creating the hop, giving ground to create a long hop or going to try and work through the short hop.

When asked if the loss stung more due to his error allowing the deciding runs, Torres kept his composure. He downplayed the significance of any single mistake, attributing the loss to the Yankees’ broader offensive struggles rather than dwelling on his miscue.

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