BTN News: Anthony Rizzo stood on the threshold of yet another pivotal moment in the crucible: a Sunday Night Baseball showdown between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox settling a five-game set with a prime opportunity to reenter the postseason picture. In the seventh inning, with the Yankees trying to rally, Rizzo came up with runners on base. But what happened next changed the course of the game.
Rizzo, an ironman performer, fought through a laborious count, only to smash a hot grounder into what appeared to be a tailor-made double-play chance for the Red Sox. But an ill-advised mishandle by Dominic Smith in the first base paved the way for the Yankees loaded the bases, and ultimately brought up a pile-up between the bomber reliever and pitcher Brennan Bernardino. The collision sent Rizzo to the ground with a wrist injury that left fans and teammates biting their nails.
It was not the first time Rizzo encountered the on-field equivalent, referencing an injury when he was involved in a collision. Rizzo was quickly pulled from the game by manager Aaron Boone, who replaced him with Oswaldo Cabrera and moved DJ LeMahieu across the diamond to play first base.
The Yankees, even after loading the bases with nobody out, squandered their chance in their final at-bats. After Gleyber Torres and Jose Trevino went down, LeMahieu lined what would have been a third hit of the inning, but it was right into Segura’s glove for the last out of the inning. In a close series like this one, the miss would go on to have enormous ramifications.
The Yankees do not know the extent of the damage in Rizzo’s case, which makes this divisional series at an extremely heated Fenway Park list of concerns even longer. With the Red Sox continuing to play well, taking a series from another contender and doing so on the road, there is much to be gained.
As the 28th out was recorded, it reflected that ever-changing dynamic, illustrating not only the unpredictable nature of the baseball, but also the transient place of importance in the broader scheme of a season. With Rizzo awaiting further testing, the Yankees are tasked with the challenge of moving on without a crucial player and also setting their sights on the months ahead of a scheduled difficult slate.
