ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cam Schlittler has to be “win day” for the Yankees in these playoffs. That felt nonnegotiable if his organization was going to win a championship for the first time since 2009. He is not only their ace. He is their confidence. Their largest difference-maker, especially with Aaron Judge sidelined.
Still, his teammates had to help him a little.
Yet, they could not even muster that little — unless you are talking about how small they showed up Monday night beyond Ben Rice. All you need to know is that in a four-batter span to begin the bottom of the first inning, the Yankees committed three errors behind Schlittler. So they had as many errors in about five minutes as they had hits in this game until Rice hit his second solo homer with one out in the eighth inning.
Basically, the Rays forced the Yankees to play baseball — and the Yankees were just awful at it.
