Yankees’ depth pieces have rough go of it in ugly loss to Red Sox

· New York Post

Amed Rosario and Ali Sánchez are supposed to provide depth, part-time players who help the Yankees when given an opportunity. 

The duo hurt them Saturday afternoon. 

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Rosario’s baserunning mistake and Sánchez’s passed ball cost the Yankees multiple runs in their 6-0 loss to the Red Sox to start a crucial day-night doubleheader in The Bronx. 

They were key plays in a game manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees performed “poorly.”

Rosario’s gaffe — he failed to score from second base on Heliot Ramos’ double that eluded Ceddanne Rafaela in deep center field — prevented the Yankees from scoring the tying run in the fourth inning. Rosario was looking to tag up on the play rather than go halfway and was thrown out by a wide margin at the plate. 

“Difficult read there, but at the end of the day, I just have to get myself in a better position, trying to give myself a chance there to score if you have an opportunity,” Rosario said through an interpreter. “I just put myself in a bad position to score.” 

“If I’m in a better position,” he later added, “I definitely score there.” 

New York Yankees third baseman Amed Rosario (14) is tagged out at home trying to score on a double by left fielder Heliot Ramos (34) in the fourth inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Sánchez’s passed ball with two outs in the fifth enabled the Red Sox to extend the lead to 2-0. Rosario had a hand in that run scoring as well. With one out and Adley Rutschman on first base, he caught an Andruw Monasterio line drive, but his throw to first base to double up Rutschman was wild, hit the runner and enabled him to advance to second base. 

“I think a good throw gets us a double play there,” Rosario said. 

Still, there were two outs with Rutschman on second base and light-hitting outfielder Eli White at the plate. But Carlos Rodón missed badly with a 2-2 slider that Sánchez couldn’t catch. It was supposed to be a back-foot slider, and it ended up high and away. The slow-footed Rutschman narrowly beat Sánchez’s throw to Rodón at home. 

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) and catcher Ali Sanchez (39) talk after a solo home run by Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu during the first inning. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I think Ali’s been pretty good behind the plate — obviously, the passed ball is a ball we have to catch,” Boone said. 

Sánchez agreed. 

“I just have to catch the ball,” said the backup catcher, who struck out twice in as many plate appearances in Game 1 of the twin bill. 

The Yankees could have options if they so choose. Anthony Volpe could be the right-handed-hitting infielder they need. He has been getting reps at second base, and Saturday he was starting at third. Rosario has not hit lefties at all, with a .192/.244/.367 slash line. 

It’s no secret the Yankees were looking for a catcher ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. They never landed that player, losing out to the rival Red Sox for Rutschman. But they did sign veteran catcher Mitch Garver to a minor league contract in early August. 

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Garver has an opt-out clause in the contract that expired Friday. He is said to be looking at major league options while he’s with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 35-year-old Garver appeared in 50 games for the Mariners, hitting .175 with four home runs and 15 RBIs and a .596 OPS. 

In the case of both Rosario and Sánchez, Saturday could at least make the Yankees consider other options.