New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells went from near-hero to zero in just three bases.
With Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen pitching like an all-time great in Saturday’s Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Yankees at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and working on a potential playoff no-hitter, Wells lined a double to right field with the Yankees trailing 1-0.
But instead of stopping at second, Wells used up all his fuel to go for third base, where he was tagged out while sliding, ending the top of the frame.
Here is a video of that play.
Absolutely pathetic baseball https://t.co/ra6D029qd3
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 4, 2026
It was a clearly poor decision by Wells, especially since third-base coach Luis Rojas was already telling him to stop running.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the obvious about Wells’ gaffe.
“There’s mistakes every now and then in aggression,” Boone told reporters after New York’s 1-0 loss, via SNY Yankees. “Obviously, that was one. He’s usually a little more risk-averse on the bases. Obviously, it’s a mistake – it does happen.”
Wells could have represented the tying run for the Yankees in a game in which Rasmussen was looking so unhittable. Instead, he committed a self-inflicted blunder that could end up haunting him for a long time if New York goes on to lose the series.
Wells can atone for his baserunning mistake in Game 2 on Sunday.
