Another rough game for Gary
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gary Sanchez started his 17th game behind the plate Monday night since coming back from his second stint on the disabled list with a strained groin. And after committing two more passed balls in the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Rays, he’s now up to seven during that stretch.
And on the season, despite having caught only 72 games, Sanchez has four more passed balls than anyone else in the majors.
“We were talking in the ninth [inning] and it felt like he did so many good things behind the plate tonight, but there were a few bumps there that we’ve got to continue to work on and clean up,’’ Aaron Boone said. “And it kind of overshadows some of the really good things he did tonight from a receiving and game-calling standpoint.’’
To Boone’s point, Dellin Betances noted that Sanchez had to catch eight different pitchers as the Yankees utilized a bullpen day against the team that invented the strategy.
“He has an idea of what a hitter is trying to do throughout a game when it comes to calling pitches,’’ said Betances, who tossed a scoreless eighth inning in the victory. “He tries really hard at framing pitches to get more called strikes. Maybe at times that might hurt him.”
Sanchez’s first mistake came in the fourth with Sonny Gray on the mound. After a Tommy Pham double to lead off the inning, Sanchez’s passed ball sent Pham to third, and Pham later scored on a double play.
He committed his second passed ball in the sixth, as Matt Duffy took second, helping to set up an inning in which Brett Gardner saved the lead with a spectacular catch of Brandon Lowe’s fly ball to deep center.
“We’ve got to keep leaning into him,’’ Boone said. “We know he’s working his butt off at it.”
Boone left no doubt over the weekend that Sanchez would be the starting catcher in the wild cardgame and GM Brian Cashman also gave Sanchez a vote of confidence.
Still, it’s no better on the offensive side, as Sanchez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He left runners in scoring position three times and is 1for-23 with five walks and a dozen strikeouts in his last eight games.
Despite the prolonged struggles, Betances expressed confidence in his batterymate.
“He’s done hell of a job,’’ Betances said. “He’s got a lot of guys doing different stuff. Some of those breaking pitches are not easy to catch and you’ve got [Zach] Britton throwing those Bugs Bunny pitches. Gary’s trying. I don’t even worry about it when I’m out there. It’s not something that crosses my mind even a little bit.”