Rays were sloppy, a breakdown

In the first game of the MLB postseason, the Tampa Bay Rays struggle to play winning defense against their opponents, the New York Yankees. In the early innings, Rays infielder Yandy Díaz fails to cleanly field a ground ball, allowing the runner to reach base safely. Rays catcher Francisco Mejía then has trouble handling the next play, resulting in an error that allows the runner to advance to third base. Later in the game, Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier misplays a fly ball, letting it bounce off his glove. While not officially ruled an error, it is the kind of play that championship-caliber teams typically make. Rays pitcher Jalen Beeks then uncorks a wild pitch, allowing a run to score. To cap off the Rays' defensive woes, Kiermaier dives for a ball but overthrows the cutoff man, sailing the ball well past the third baseman. "That's not winning defense," laments Rays pitcher Corey Glasnow, frustrated by his team's sloppy play. "Teams that win in the postseason do make that play." The Rays' defensive struggles prove costly, as they fall to the Yankees in the first game of their playoff series. The final score is not mentioned, but it's clear the Rays have work to do if they hope to advance past the opening round. Their inability to make the routine plays and capitalize on opportunities will need to be addressed before their next matchup. As the teams prepare for the next game, the Rays will surely be focusing on cleaning up their defensive execution. Winning in the postseason requires a high level of fundamentally sound baseball, something the Rays failed to demonstrate in this contest. The series is far from over, but the Rays will need to quickly learn from their mistakes if they hope to turn the tide and defeat their division rivals.