3 Yankees most responsible for embarrassing ALDS loss to Rays

The New York Yankees never held a lead during their ALDS sweep against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays. An offense that managed just five runs in three losses and a defense that repeatedly gave up opportunities left the Yankees with little to no chance to recover.

Wednesday’s 4-3 loss ended the season, but the blame extends beyond the final exit. Coaching decisions and roster limitations contributed. Still, Trent Grisham, Max Fried and Jazz Chisholm Jr. deserve special consideration for their performances that helped turn a winnable series into an embarrassing outing for the Yankees.

Trent Grisham left the lineup in search of production

With Aaron Judge sidelined with a calf injury, the Yankees needed their remaining hitters to support the trades. Grisham instead finished the series hitless, going 0 for 11.

His struggles became costly when manager Aaron Boone put him on top in Game 3. Grisham went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts, leaving New York without production from the top of its order.

Bryan Baker struck him out to complete the sweep. That final plate appearance captured his streak, but the biggest failure was his inability to provide even a single hit in three games.

Boone is responsible for roster assignment. Grisham still had to keep his promises once the Yankees put him there. An offense already missing its biggest threat couldn’t afford such a futile contribution from a hitter tasked with five plate appearances in a playoff game.

Max Fried gave up the decisive swing in Game 3

The Yankees needed Fried to keep Game 3 within reach, and the offense twice erased an early deficit. He failed to protect the second tie.

Fried allowed seven hits and four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Ryan Vilade’s solo homer provided an upset, but Victor Mesa Jr.’s two-run shot in the sixth did the decisive damage.

New York responded to 2-2. Fried then gave up the swing that gave the Rays the lead again, forcing an already struggling lineup to mount another comeback.

Seven strikeouts and no walks showed his outing wasn’t a complete failure. The problem was the damage caused by his mistakes. The Yankees ultimately scored three runs, leaving Fried’s four-run line at the center of the outcome.

A front-line starter doesn’t have to be perfect. In this playoff game, Fried had to manage this sixth inning better.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. compounded offensive woes with defensive errors

Chisholm hurt the Yankees on both sides of the ball before losing his starting spot in Game 3.

He went 0 of 6 in the first two games, contributing to an offense that managed just two points. His defense then compounded these difficulties.

In Game 2, Ryan McMahon’s error and Jonathan Aranda’s single created problems before Chisholm’s off-balance throw drifted away from first base. Yandy Diaz scored on the play.

Tampa Bay scored just once in that inning, then added four more in the fifth. Chisholm’s mistake, however, forced a struggling offense to play from behind.

Still, New York needed Chisholm to avoid forcing a tough throw that gave up a point. His combination of empty at-bats and costly execution gave the Yankees problems they could not overcome.

For the Yankees, a veteran expected to contribute in multiple ways became part of two failures defining the season-ending sweep.