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The crowd at the Yankee Stadium was abruptly disappointed on Sunday afternoon. It was the rain that turned the field into a chaotic mess. The Yankees’ game against the Detroit Tigers was called after 56 minutes of delay in the top of the eighth inning. At that time, New York was clinging to a 5-2 lead. Manager Aaron Boone reveals the culprit It was the field that was so slick and “unplayable”

The game was not a complete washout however for the Yankees. Despite the steady drizzle throughout the day, both teams battled it out for a respectable 7 ½ innings. Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes persevered, acknowledging later, “Every ball I got was pretty wet.  Had to keep rubbing it down.”

Manager Aaron Boone’s Comments on the Game Against Detroit Tigers “Last Two Innings Or So Were Pretty Bad”

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By the eighth inning, player safety seemed to be at risk. Manager Aaron Boone, ever the pragmatist, described the scene – “The last two innings or so were pretty bad. Puddles were forming, you know, like, uh when we had the bases loaded, that line drive that [Alex Verdugo] hit that [Andrew] Chafin caught, I know even [second base umpire] Alan [Porter] came in and said, ‘It’s pretty bad, the puddles and stuff.'”  This wasn’t just Boone’s perspective. 

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In fact, Boone’s perspective was a shared by even top players of the team. Outfielder Juan Soto too spoke about the conditions. His words were, “It was the worst. It was really tough…everyone on the field was worried more about getting hurt than even the game.”  

This underscores the fact that the Yankees’ want to prioritize player safety over pushing through a rain-shortened contest.  After all, the team does have some players sidelined such as Gerrit Cole. DJ LeMahieu too for instance was able to hit Saturday and Sunday. Boone, however, is not sure whether he will be able to start another rehabilitation assignment this week since he has been out since mid-March with a non-displaced fracture in his right foot.

The Yankees Prioritize Health Over Anything Else

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Safety is key and while fans did yearn for a full nine innings, the Yankees’ prioritized player safety in a commendable move. With that, they avoided serious injuries on a treacherous field which is far more important than squeezing out a few extra outs. The bigger picture remains the team’s health and performance throughout the season. With key players like DJ LeMahieu still recovering from injuries and strategic decisions like Anthony Rizzo’s planned day off, the Yankees remain focused on their long-term goals.

Though the rain may did hamper Sunday’s game, it ultimately served as a reminder that it is not possible to play well if the weather is not in favor. Manager Aaron Boone emphasized on this aspect in his post-game interview. Nevertheless, the wait counted as the New York Yankees won over the Detroit Tigers despite close to an hour’s  delay.