Overview
- New York fell 2-1 in Seattle on Monday on Cal Raleigh’s walk-off single, handing the Yankees their first loss and ending a bullpen scoreless run of more than 14 innings.
- Manager Aaron Boone stayed with long reliever Paul Blackburn for the ninth after a clean eighth, and Blackburn gave up singles to Leo Rivas and Brendan Donovan before Raleigh ended it.
- Boone said he never considered an intentional walk of Raleigh that would have loaded the bases for Julio Rodríguez, citing no margin for error and a low chance to turn a double play on Rodríguez.
- Explaining the choice, Boone pointed to a short bullpen, concern about having closer Camilo Doval warm in the cold, and a plan to let Blackburn face the bottom of Seattle’s order.
- Fans on social media blasted the move to ride Blackburn in a tie game, with some calling for a higher-leverage option such as David Bednar instead.