The New York Yankees came within one hit of tying Game 1 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, but Austin Wells’ attempt to do more than needed ended their best shot at a comeback.
Wells broke up Drew Rasmussen’s no-hit bid with two outs in the eighth inning Saturday, then tried to stretch his double into a triple. Junior Caminero tagged him out, ending the inning in Tampa Bay’s 1-0 win to kick off the ALDS.
Wells acknowledged that his aggressive decision backfired during his postgame media availability.
“As you can see, that wins and loses games,” Wells said. “You have to take risks. But in that situation, obviously the risk was wrong. I can’t tell you if I’d go again because the situation would be different. I took the risk, didn’t work out.
“I think I needed to try to make something happen there, obviously it didn’t work out.”
Wells hit Rasmussen’s pitch down the right-field line at 107.8 mph. He reached second base in 8.13 seconds, his fastest career home-to-second time, per The Athletic, but failed to pick up third-base coach Luis Rojas before rounding the bag.
Rojas had both arms raised, signaling Wells to stop, but by the time Wells saw him, he believed he had already committed to third.
“Saw his hands up, I was already committed,” Wells said. “Made two good throws and got me.”
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Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. threw to shortstop Taylor Walls, whose relay gave Caminero enough time to tag Wells. Wells believed the ball had kicked farther away from Mesa.
Manager Aaron Boone also criticized Wells’ decision to try for third, calling it “not a good decision there.”
The Yankees finished Game 1 with only Wells’ hit as New York will now try to even the ALDS in Game 2 against Tampa Bay on Monday.
