When Jazz Chisholm Jr. took over at second base late in Tuesday night’s Game 1 of the Wild Card series , it was because manager Aaron Boone wanted to optimize the Yankees ’ defense.
The Yankees were trailing by a run when Chisholm entered in the top of the eighth as a defensive replacement for Amed Rosario.
But the move loomed large during the Yankees’ comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth , as the Yankees lost Rosario’s right-handed bat to face left-handed Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman.
“That’s a very fair question. That is the challenge,” Boone said Wednesday when asked about the decision to insert Chisholm at that point in the Yankees’ eventual 3-1 loss in the Bronx.
“The inning before, the ball’s starting to go over there, and just [wanting Chisholm’s] range a