Yankees’ sloppiness on full display in another series loss vs. Red Sox

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BOSTON — One of the biggest areas general manager Brian Cashman felt he needed to upgrade heading into the 2025 season was the defense and base running. The New York Yankees were humiliated in the World Series due to poor fundamentals, and some Los Angeles Dodgers players let them hear it over the offseason.

The sloppiness became a major narrative throughout the winter, with some observers thinking that was the main reason the Yankees did not win the World Series. For those still concerned with the club’s lack of attention to detail, Saturday night at Fenway Park probably led to some shudders.

The Yankees did not play a clean game in a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox. The Yankees have now dropped four of five games this season against their rival and are 8-10 overall in the American League East.

“We want to win, and everyone knows the rivalry we have with Boston,” left fielder Jasson Domínguez said. “We just want to win. Losing here and losing at home is tough.”

Domínguez had a costly mental mistake in the seventh inning that could have swung the game in the Yankees’ favor. With runners on first and second, two outs and Trent Grisham at the plate, Domínguez was picked off second base. Grisham swung through a 2-1 fastball. Domínguez thought it was strike three. Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez threw down to second base, and Domínguez was easily thrown out trying to advance to third. It was a costly mental error because it left Aaron Judge in the on-deck circle.

Carlos Narváez picks the runner off of SECOND BASE to end the inning! 😳 pic.twitter.com/FCzurlEpGB

— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025

Domínguez called it a “humbling experience” having to jog off the field in embarrassment after costing his team an opportunity to capitalize on a rally in an inning where the Yankees had already scored two runs.

“Obviously, in that situation, it’s not ideal,” Domínguez said. “For some reason, I thought he had two strikes. I have nothing to say. No excuses. I made a mistake.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Domínguez feels “terrible” about his mistake. He talked with him and reminded him that he needs to be cognizant of the situation and pay closer attention.

“It’s probably something that won’t ever happen to him again,” Boone said.

While it’s unknown if the Yankees would have scored if Domínguez wasn’t picked off, their defense directly led to the Red Sox scoring the first run of the game. Narváez hit an infield single to Anthony Volpe in the hole at shortstop. Volpe tried reenacting Derek Jeter’s patented jump throw, but his throw was up the first-base line and got past Paul Goldschmidt. Former Yankee Rob Refsnyder scored from second base on the poor throw. Volpe is usually sure-handed at shortstop, but his defense hasn’t been as crisp as it was in his first two seasons in the big leagues. He entered Saturday’s game eighth in defensive runs saved and tied for 12th in outs above average among all shortstops.

But even though the throw was well off target, Goldschmidt took the blame for not salvaging the play.

“For me, that was my fault,” Goldschmidt said. “I tried to come off the bag and knock it down. I knew what was happening. He’s trying to make a great play, and I just didn’t get far enough off the bag. I kind of got caught trying to knock it down. I just didn’t do a good enough job. I feel like that one was on me. He should have the freedom to throw that ball across the diamond like he did.”

There was another defensive miscue that Volpe was involved in in the fourth inning. Trevor Story hit a line drive to Grisham in center field, and Story caught both Grisham and Volpe sleeping on the play. Story hustled to second for a double, which caught Volpe by surprise as he was unaware of Story sliding into the bag.

While a lot of the defensive problems have improved from last year’s team, that Dodgers scouting report on outfield throws to the infield from last season rang very true tonight. pic.twitter.com/A4zkJNRjXn

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 15, 2025

Story getting to second ultimately did not hurt the Yankees in the inning, but it was another moment where they must play cleaner.

“It’s something I talked with Volpe about, just making sure you’re constantly — as you’re getting yourself back to that bag — giving a peek to the runner,” Boone said. “I don’t know if we get him anyway.

“I don’t think Grish got caught. It was casual in nature, but I don’t think he got caught. Story did a good job of leaning and then Volpe has to feel him a little more.”

The Red Sox tested Domínguez in left field two batters before Story’s double. Narváez roped a ball down the corner, and Domínguez was unable to throw him out at second. His one-hopper got by DJ LeMahieu at second. If LeMahieu fields the ball cleanly, Narváez is out and the Red Sox don’t score on Story’s hit. The Red Sox trying to take extra bases appeared to be part of their scouting report, and it worked.

Last season, the Yankees ranked 12th in DRS and 13th in OAA. This year, they’re seventh in DRS and 14th in OAA. While the Yankees might be slightly better defensively this year, there have been moments where it’s been a lingering issue.

Saturday’s loss against the Red Sox was not the exception.

(Photo of Jasson Domínguez getting picked off at second base in the seventh inning: Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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