Yankees' center field mix-up looms large as Astros strike early in ALCS Game 3 win

David Suggs

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Yankees' center field mix-up looms large as Astros strike early in ALCS Game 3 win image

When it rains, it pours.

Just ask Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. The New York hurler appeared to have gotten himself out of the second inning of ALCS Game 3 when Astros catcher Christian Vasquez sent a routine fly ball to center field.

It was an easy one for center fielder Harrison Bader to track. There was just one problem: Aaron Judge — and every inch of his 6-8, 282-pound frame — was making a beeline for the ball.

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Bader called for the ball, prompting Judge to pull up. But the damage was done; Judge blocked Bader's vision. And although the ball nestled into Bader's glove for just a second, it immediately bounced out, prolonging the inning.

The error was so shocking that even Vasquez thought that he was out. He momentarily jogged onto the infield grass before running, and then sliding, back to first base.

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Cole was confident in his ability to get the Pinstripers out of the inning. In fact, he seemingly told himself and/or Bader, "I got you."

In a cruel twist of fate, Houston's next batter, Chas McCormick, took Cole deep on a 1-1 fastball to give the Astros a 2-0 lead.

One more thing: There's only one MLB stadium where McCormick's line drive would be a home run. That would be at Yankee Stadium and its right-field porch. It's just 314 feet from home plate to the corner.

The Yanks weren't able to climb themselves out of their early hole, falling 5-0 to give Houston a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead in the series.

And although New York's offensive struggles stole the show on Saturday night — the Yankees had just three hits — Judge and Bader's miscommunication set the stage for a dour day at the office.

"That's just what happens when you have two guys on defense that go really hard every time the ball is hit in their vicinity," Bader said postgame. "...It was just placed perfectly and guys were calling it to the very end and [we] both got a little spooked. That's just the nature of the game."

Judge took blame for the miscue, telling reporters he didn't hear Bader's call until "the last second."

"I'm trying to get out of the way," Judge said. "I definitely messed him up on that play. I gotta take responsibility for that. He's a center fielder so when he calls it I gotta drop and get out of the way. You know, just couldn't move quick enough."

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.