The New York Yankees achieved a clean sweep in their challenges using the automated ball-strike system, despite a 2-1 defeat to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
All five challenges initiated by the Yankees were successful.
Boone Praises Hitters’ Awareness
Manager Aaron Boone expressed his satisfaction with the hitters’ ability to recognise balls and strikes against Mariners starter Luis Castillo, who pitched six scoreless innings. Boone would have liked for his team to stay undefeated four games into the season.
“Really good job by the guys,” Boone said. “When you have that kind of success rate, it’s not going to be like that every night. But I thought every one was obviously warranted, and a couple in some key spots to give us a chance to build an inning. We just weren’t able to build much offensively tonight.”
Key Challenge Moments
The challenge success began in the bottom of the second when Jose Caballero challenged two called strikes by plate umpire Mike Estabrook were balls, including a 3-2 pitch from Castillo, and was proved correct. Caballero tapped his helmet to ask for a challenge as he took his left shin guard off.
Giancarlo Stanton also successfully challenged that a 1-2 slider by Castillo was below the strike zone, and then reached on a single. Jazz Chisholm Jr. challenged that a first-pitch slider by Castillo was out of the zone, though he later struck out.
Following that at-bat, Estabrook and Boone had a verbal exchange, with Boone remaining in the dugout.
Yankees’ Challenge Success Rate
“Those are razor-thin pitches sometimes,” Boone said. “You don’t want to always have to be challenging. But good on the guys for just hammering the strike zone right now.”
The Yankees have now had an MLB-best 10 successful challenges this season and are 10-of-11 on challenges, second behind the Diamondbacks, who are 3-for-3.