New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is being ripped by fans after a botched defensive play and a questionable decision led to a walkoff extra-innings win for the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
With one out, the bases loaded and the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees moved left fielder Cody Bellinger in for a five-man infield to prevent the game-winning run from scoring from third.
In what initially appeared to be a lucky break for New York, Tampa’s Jonathan Aranda hit a one-hopper towards Chisholm, who could have turned an inning-ending double play. Instead, Chisholm bobbled the ball, whiffed on a tag and rather than trying to get the force out at second, fired to first base instead.
And by going to first, Chisholm eliminated the possibility of a double play, thereby guaranteeing the winning run would score from third.
Asked about the mishap later, Chisholm admitted he was unclear on the rules.
‘I was really going to go try to tag the runner and just throw it to first,’ he told reporters. ‘I don’t know what the rule is. If I went to first base first and threw it back to second, if it’s still an out. Is it still a double play? I don’t know. Does it count as not an RBI?’
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) runs out a single past New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) in the tenth inning at Tropicana Field
Chisholm bobbled the ball, whiffed on the tag and tossed to first, effectively sealing the loss
The 28-year-old Chisholm is a two-time All-Star, but he has struggled thus far in 2026
Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham later explained the long-standing rules to Chisolm, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
Naturally, Yankees fans were less than pleased to hear Chisholm’s confusion.
‘Jazz is the lowest IQ player in the league,’ one wrote on X. ‘We’ve known this for years.’
‘Is this guy serious?’ another asked. ‘You gotta be kidding me.’
One fan suggested Chisholm stop answering questions altogether: ‘Jazz really needs to learn to keep quiet given how awful he’s been.’
The loss was New York’s fourth straight.
Worst of all, New York is just eighth in the majors with a .202 batting average while .142 (18 for 127) with six extra-base hits during the four-game skid. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge was 0 for 3 on Saturday with two walks.
He is hitting just .212.
Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler (2-0) and Rays righty Drew Rasmussen (0-0) will start Sunday’s series finale in Tampa.
