Austin Wells Makes One Of The Worst Baserunning Decisions You'll Ever See As Drew Rasmussen Completely Shuts Down The Yankees To Win Game 1 For The Rays

Mike Carlson. Getty Images.

Yeah that sucked. Absolutely shut down by a guy in Drew Rasmussen who has owned the Yankees throughout his entire career. He was so good it felt like his pitches were being remote controlled at times. Total dominance over this lineup from the jump. 

The really frustrating part here is that Gerrit Cole and the relievers who followed him were really good. They did their job and then some to limit Tampa and make big pitches when traffic was on the bases. Unfortunately that all goes to waste when Rasmussen does that.

The play everyone is talking about is obviously Austin Wells on the bases, as he connected on the first and only hit for the Yankees all night, a two out base hit down the line in the 8th. Only problem is that Wells decided to chance it and go for third, getting thrown out by 20 feet. Fucking brutal. 

It's as bad of a decision as it gets. Inexplicable. 

I mean holy fuck look where Wells is when Mesa Jr. released the ball in right. In real time you don't have the split screen of where Wells is and when the ball is being thrown, but my god is this bad. 

In real time my brain tricked itself to think Wells had already advanced past 2nd at that point, but it wasn't remotely close. Instead he made the final out of the inning at 3rd, breaking the cardinal sin of baseball. On top of that, Giancarlo Stanton was ready to pinch hit for McMahon there, needing to just a base hit to tie the game. That may have resulted in Rasmussen getting pulled right there, forcing Baker to get four outs and throwing an up-down. There's just nothing to really gain by going for three there. 

I'm only going to think about that base-running fuck up for the next two days until Game 2 starts. Hopefully after that it gets put in the rear view mirror and we forget about it. If they lose this series he'll live with it forever. 

The plan was always to split in Tampa. Today the Rays had the advantage in the pitching department. That swings to the Yankees side in Game 2 with Cam going. Gotta win. Need the offense to get going and play with a fucking lead. At the bare minimum just get guys on base and make them think about having to defend a run scoring opportunity. At least Rasmussen can't pitch again til Game 4 or 5.