Anthony Volpe connected on a 95.9 mph sinker from Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, carrying it 357 feet in the direction of left field. Except, it was not a home run.

New York was eliminated from the American League Division Series Friday, as Volpe’s apparent homer was overturned after review, and Tampa Bay won the decisive ALDS game 4-3. The Rays limited the Yankees to two hits after Volpe’s apparent home run was overturned to a double.

In a scene not unlike, or maybe more like, as it went the opposite direction, what occurred with Jeffrey Maier 30 years ago, a member of the audience stretched his hand over the fence to touch the ball. After watching the replay, it was ruled interference and Volpe was placed on second base. One run scored to make it 4-3, and the Yankees never threatened.

The team swept Boston in the Wild Card Series only to struggle against Tampa Bay in the ALDS. Without All-Star slugger Aaron Judge due to a calf injury, New York slashed just .130, plated five and conceded 10 in the three-game series with Tampa.

It all started going south with a boneheaded baserunning decision by Wells that helped lead to Game 1 being a Tampa Bay shutout, as the Yankees managed just a hit. New York made four errors in Game 2 and suddenly was one loss from going home early.

Friday started out ugly when Max Fried gave up a home run to Ryan Vilade in the fourth and Victor Mesa Jr. launched a two-run shot in the sixth. After that, the Yankees did not mount another serious scoring threat.

In the eighth, Paul Goldschmidt got on as a result of an error by Tampa. Pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton, out since April 24 with strained calves in both legs, fanned in his second at-bat of the postseason. It was another strikeout for Trent Grisham in the ninth and that was that for the Yankees.

Written by

Lakshya