Yankees' Aaron Boone explains not pinch-hitting for Randal Grichuk in loss to Rays
Following the Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Rays on Friday night, manager Aaron Boone explained his decision to keep Randal Grichuk in to hit against a right-handed closer with the chance to tie the game.
The Yankees offense had another tough game on Friday night . Going up against the Rays in Tropicana Field, the Yankees lineup scored two runs in the first inning before finally pushing across another run in the eighth. The team had just five hits, but despite all of that, the Yankees had a chance to at least tie the game in the ninth inning, but manager Aaron Boone made a curious decision.
Down 5-3, Giancarlo Stanton and Amed Rosario led off with singles. Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with two outs.
Chisholm would steal second to give the Yankees an opportunity to tie the game with just a single. Randal Grichuk , who started in right field in Boone's right-handed-heavy lineup against Tampa's southpaw starter, Steven Matz , was due up. The Rays had right-hander Bryan Baker on the mound to start the ninth looking for the save, so it seemed like a golden opportunity for the Yankees skipper to go to his bench for a left-hander in this scenario.
Trent Grisham was on the bench and could easily take Grichuk's spot in the outfield in the bottom half of the inning, but Boone decided to keep Grichuk in. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Grichuk struck out on four pitches for the second out. Boone would call Grisham's number to bat for Jose Caballero, but the veteran outfielder popped out to end the game.