In a crucial encounter, the New York Yankees seemed to be in serious trouble when Juan Soto hit a ball towards left field in the seventh inning. The New York Mets, down by two runs, were looking for a rally with no outs. Francisco Lindor was on first base, Pete Alonso was waiting in the on-deck circle, and Brandon Nimmo was in the batter’s position. It was the heart of the Mets’ powerful lineup. Given the Yankees’ recent losing streak, losing their lead and suffering a sweep in the Subway Series against their neighbors seemed almost inevitable, especially after a seventh consecutive loss. However, Cody Bellinger, with an impressive play, changed the course of the game. Soto’s hit, at 105 mph, was caught by Bellinger, who made a spectacular catch and, with great astuteness, threw to first base to complete an improbable double play. This play not only avoided another defeat, but also broke a streak of six lost games, with a final score of 6-4. Considering the context of this week and everything, that’s probably our play of the year so far. According to Statcast, the probability of catching Soto’s hit was only 10%. But Bellinger, a standout defender in multiple positions, managed to catch the ball just before it touched the grass. With the certainty of having caught it cleanly, he threw at 89.9 mph, sending the ball directly to Paul Goldschmidt at first base, over Lindor, who did not slide towards the base.
The Mets, surprised by the play, challenged the decision, but the call stood. That was incredible. During the last week, which Boone described as “terrible” for his team, poor defense has been a constant problem for the Yankees. Physical errors, mental lapses, and near disasters. The lack of precision contributed to sinking the pitching staff, largely offsetting the strong offensive production. This combination produced the team’s second six-game losing streak in three weeks and a three-game deficit in the American League East standings, behind the leaders, the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays, in excellent form, won again on Sunday, extending their streak to seven consecutive victories and maintaining their lead in the division by three games, but Bellinger’s defense prevented this from increasing. That was an incredible play. An amazing catch and an absolute cannon towards me at first. Making that play was a game changer, and potentially the winning play for us today. And we needed it.I saw it in the air and had a very good read.
Cody Bellinger
