The New York Yankees’ playoff run has been propelled more by strong pitching and opponents’ mistakes than by their own offensive firepower. However, ongoing defensive struggles and poor baserunning decisions have continued to plague the team.
In Game 3 of the ALCS on Thursday, these issues resurfaced. Jose Trevino, starting in place of the slumping Austin Wells and batting ninth, initially provided a spark. He delivered an RBI single in the second inning, driving in Anthony Volpe and giving the Yankees an early lead against Cleveland starter Matthew Boyd.
But that momentum quickly faded due to a costly baserunning miscue. Trevino, one of the Yankees’ slower runners, was picked off at first base with runners on first and third and only one out—a prime opportunity to extend their lead. His ill-advised decision to take an aggressive lead erased a key scoring chance and compounded the Yankees’ season-long baserunning woes.
Gleyber Torres followed by lining out to left field, a play that likely would have resulted in a sacrifice fly and another run if Trevino hadn’t been picked off. After that, the Yankees’ offense stalled, failing to get another runner on base until the seventh inning.
Trevino’s decision remains puzzling, particularly since it came after a long layoff—his first game since September 29. The mistake was emblematic of the Yankees’ ongoing struggles in crucial situations, adding another layer of frustration to their postseason efforts.
Hamilton’s exit a blow to Yankees
The Yankees’ problems in Game 3 of the ALCS extended beyond their offensive struggles, as their pitching staff also faltered. Clarke Schmidt’s control issues led to a two-run homer by Kyle Manzardo, erasing the Yankees’ lead. Despite being one out from completing the fifth inning, Schmidt allowed a leadoff double to Jose Ramirez, prompting manager Aaron Boone to pull him after just 78 pitches. Tim Hill was brought in for a quick out, followed by Ian Hamilton in the sixth inning.
Hamilton’s appearance was both brief and unfortunate. After just seven pitches, he suffered two injuries. The first came while covering first base after Jon Berti mishandled a tough grounder, and the second occurred when Hamilton rolled his ankle while warming up on the mound. Forced to leave the game, Hamilton’s exit opened the door for Cleveland to tack on another run.
Tim Mayza replaced Hamilton, but Cleveland capitalized immediately. Lane Thomas, who had walked earlier, scored on an Andres Gimenez single. This sequence of events further diminished the Yankees‘ chances of a comeback from a 3-1 deficit, which already seemed slim given their earlier struggles.
Despite Cleveland starter Matthew Boyd‘s early command issues—he allowed two hits and three walks in the first two innings—the Yankees failed to take advantage. They managed just one run, and a critical baserunning error halted their momentum. Boyd eventually settled in and completed five innings, marking the first time a Cleveland starter had done so in the postseason.
The Yankees’ inability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes continues to cast doubt on their postseason prospects. Until they can string together a complete, error-free performance, their path to victory remains uncertain.
Yankees fans slam Trevino’s blunder
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