BALTIMORE — The Yankees had a chance to sweep the Orioles on Sunday, but they blew it in spectacular fashion in a 6-5 loss prior to the All-Star break. The Yankees, 58-40 (.592), will enter the off days with a second-place record, as Baltimore is now 58-38 (.
604). The two foes face off again at Yankee Stadium during the final week of the regular season. On Sunday, the Yankees had a chance to win late, as Ben Rice gave his team a 5-3 lead with a three-run homer in the ninth.
However, a fielding error from Gold Glover Anthony Volpe gave Baltimore a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Alex Verdugo misjudged a Cedric Mullins double and fell to the ground in left. “To me, that’s a routine groundball,” Volpe said, adding that he didn’t move his feet well on the play. “The game’s gotta be over.
” Verdugo, meanwhile, took a step in before realizing Mullins’ hit was over his head. In an attempt to make up lost ground, Verdugo tripped as the Orioles celebrated a walk-off win. The ball, hit off Clay Holmes, had a catch probability of 99%.
“It’s the wrong first step,” said a visibly distraught Verdugo, who sat at his locker with his head down before talking to reporters. “I mean, just leave it at that. I take a lot of pride out there defensively, and this one’s on me.
” Just like that, a teeter-totter affair ended on a humiliating note for the Yankees and two of their best defenders. “There’s no one you’d rather have the ball hit to, fran.
