Following the New York Yankees’ nail-biting 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS, Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself at the heart of a key moment. The game-winning run, driven in by Alex Verdugo, was made possible by Chisholm’s contentious stolen base in the seventh inning.
Chisholm, who led off the inning with a single, made a daring attempt to swipe second base during Anthony Volpe’s at-bat. The play was razor-thin, with Kansas City’s Michael Massey appearing to apply a quick tag. After a lengthy review, the original safe call was upheld, sparking debate.
Even after the game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro continued to rake the episode, disagreeing with the ruling on Chisholm’s steal. He noted that his team received no explanation for the decision, and he felt they had a solid case for an overturn after the replay review. “I haven’t gotten any sort of explanation,” he said. “In my opinion, I thought we had a really good argument to get that overturned.”
But Chisholm confidently stood by the umpires’ ruling, saying he was certain he had beaten the tag, “Nobody could throw me out, yeah, that ain’t happening.” He brushed off any suggestion that he might have been thrown out, showing faith in his instincts and speed.
Reflecting on the exchange with Massey at second base, Chisholm acknowledged the defender’s effort but remained adamant that the tag, while well-executed, didn’t necessarily make the play close enough to overturn the call. His comments highlighted his self-assurance as a baserunner.
“I knew I was in there,” he told. “That’s what we were talking about at second base, actually. [Massey] was like, ‘I put down a good tag.’ I said, ‘You did put down a good tag. That doesn’t mean I’m out.'”
Chisholm went 1-for-4 at the plate, joining five other Yankees who collected hits in what was a tightly contested game. The matchup saw five lead changes—setting a new MLB postseason record, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Neither team held more than a one-run advantage throughout the game.
Chisholm tenders apology to Angels fans
Jazz Chisholm Jr. issued an apology after making an offhand comment about the Los Angeles Angels during a post-game interview following the Yankees’ win over the Royals.
When praising teammate Alex Verdugo‘s clutch RBI single in the seventh inning, Chisholm highlighted the outfielder’s experience with high-profile teams like the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. However, his comment notably excluded the Angels when referring to Los Angeles teams, implying a distinction between the Dodgers and their cross-town rivals.
“We all know Alex Verdugo—he’s been in big moments, played for big teams,” he said. “This is nothing for him. I was just talking to someone earlier, right before I came here. He lives for this. He’s played in big cities before—Boston, L.A., and I’m not talking about the Angels. So, for me, he’s been doing this. He’s almost a career .300 hitter. He’s done it before. I love it. Verdugo is my guy, and I’ll always have his back.”
The remark drew swift backlash from Angels fans, who felt it was an unnecessary jab, especially since the team is not part of this year’s postseason. Chisholm responded the next day on social media, offering an apology to Angels fans, clarifying that his intent wasn’t to offend, and even threw in a playful nod to Disneyland.
Chisholm’s original comment seemed to aim at humor while acknowledging Verdugo’s playoff pedigree with winning franchises. The Angels, however, haven’t made the postseason since 2014, and the remark, though factually accurate, was seen as out of place in the context of the interview.
Chisholm’s impact goes beyond his bat, as the Yankees acquired him from the Miami Marlins in late July for his speed. His 40 stolen bases during the regular season ranked sixth in the majors, demonstrating his ability to change games with his baserunning.
But he is new to playoff action, with Saturday marking just his fourth career postseason appearance, and faced added scrutiny both for the Yankees’ controversial win—highlighted by a debatable call—and his offhand remarks.
This incident serves as a reminder that, particularly in the high-pressure environment of October baseball, players must be mindful of their words, even when attempting humor or light-hearted commentary.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
