Jazz Chisholm returned to the Yankees’ lineup after his controversial benching in Game 1.
Chisholm made a key defensive play and used his speed to create a run.
NEW YORK – After the New York Yankees’ Game 1 loss against the Boston Red Sox, second baseman Jazz Chisholm moped, sighed, and didn’t bother to turn around to face the media.
The All-Star was frustrated after not starting the game to face Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone filled his lineup with right-handed hitters to combat the lefty who led the major leagues in strikeouts with 255.
Chisholm, who hit 31 home runs and stole 31 bases this season, was back in the lineup for Game 2, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone knew before the crucial elimination game that his sometimes-enigmatic star would come through.
“I don’t need him to put a happy face on it right now,” Boone said before Game 2. “I need him to go play his tail off, which I know he’s going to do. Hopefully can help us, do his thing and impact us winning a game.”
It was Chisholm’s tail that was ultimately the difference in the game.
Chisholm worked a walk against Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock, who was tagged with the loss, with two outs in the eighth inning. With Austin Wells up to bat, Chisholm took off from first when the count was full, and Wells laced a hit down the right-field line, ricocheting off the stands. Chisholm slid head-first into home plate, just beating the tag from Carlos Narváez on right fielder Nate Eaton’s throw.
“Any ball that an outfielder moves to his left or right, I have to score, in my head,” Chisholm said. “That’s all I was thinking.”
After the thrilling 4-3 victory on Wednesday, Chisholm admitted that he was surprised not to see his name in the lineup a day earlier. To get over that frustration, the two-time All-Star played the video game ‘MLB The Show’ and “mercy-ruled” his opponent.
‘That’s how I get my stress off,’ he said.
‘There was never a problem between me and Aaron Boone. He’s been my manager all year and I’ve stood behind him all year,” Chisholm said. “We always have disagreements – I mean, I played third base this year and we had a little bit of a disagreement in that – but at the end of the day, I always stand with Boonie because he understands where I come from. He knows I’m a passionate player and he knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows that I’m here to compete.’
Chisholm’s defense was also a key to the win, making a diving stop on an infield single from pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida, saving a run when the score was tied at three in the seventh. In the third, he started a key double play to get out of the frame.
The defense, which has been shaky at times this season for New York, was solid all around; the Yankees committed one error in Game 2 but turned three double plays.
“The double play they turned on (Alex) Bregman with his left to (Anthony) Volpe was special,” Boone said. “Obviously, to save a run with the infield hit by Yoshida was excellent, and a really good, patient at-bat. … You know, obviously moving on the pitch gave him a little bit of head-start there. And, you know, his speed comes into play big time there.”
