Austin Wells’ baserunning blunder costs Yankees in Division Series opener, a 1-0 loss to Rays

Austin Wells, the Yankees' catcher, made a critical error during the AL Division Series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. With two outs in the eighth inning, Wells reached base on a hit and attempted to stretch his double into a triple, but was thrown out at third base. This mistake led to the Rays' 1-0 victory, marking the Yankees' first loss in the postseason since 1963.

Wells, known for his relatively slow speed, stated that he was trying to create something while acknowledging the poor decision. The Rays' defense executed flawlessly, with the shortstop making a precise throw to third base. The Yankees' starter, Gerrit Cole, allowed five hits over five innings in his first postseason start since Tommy John surgery.