The new york yankees manager, Joe Girardi is currently feeling the brunt of criticism after the Bronx Bombers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS). In a press conference Saturday, Girardi said that he takes responsibility for everything and that he feels horrible about it. “I screwed up. It’s hard. It’s a hard day for me,” the Yankees manager said.

Girardi was reacting to strong criticism brought about by his failure to challenge a disputable call made at the bottom of the 6th inning of ALDS Game 2.

This allowed the Indians to come back from a 5-run deficit and then eventually win, 9-8.

The disputable call

The Yankees were leading the Indians, 8-3, in the bottom of the 6th inning of ALDS Game 2 at Cleveland’s Progressive Field when Girardi decided to pull out starter CC Sabathia and relieve him with Chad Green. With two Indians runners on base and a two-strike count on the batter, Lonnie Chisenhall, the umpire made a hit-by-pitch ruling on what appeared to be a strike-three-foul ball.

Joe Girardi failed to challenge the call leading the Indians to load the bases. The next batter, Francisco Lindor, hit a grand slam on Chad Green pitch, allowing the Indians to be just one run behind the Yankees.

The Tribe tied the game in the 8th inning when Jay Bruce hit a home run. As Game 2 went into extra innings, the Indians finally prevailed over the Yankees during the 13th inning, after Yan Gomes scored on a walk-off RBI single.

Chisenhall was not hit

Speaking to reporters, Yankees catcher, Gary Sanchez said he was sure Lonnie Chisenhall was not hit by Chad Green’s pitch.

It was widely believed that the ball in fact deflected off the knob of the bat and should have been called a strike. This could have allowed the Yankees to keep its lead intact instead of the Indians scoring four runs on Lindor’s grand slam.

'I would’ve challenged it'

Girardi told reporters that, in hindsight, he wished he would’ve challenged the call as he had two challenges remaining at the time.

But the Yankees manager said that he has to move forward and that the Bronx Bombers have to be ready for Game 3. “We’ll go out and try to win one game,” he said.

The former Yankee catcher said that his team always has each other’s back and they will continue to do so. The NY team is now behind 0-2 in a best of 5 division series against the Cleveland Indians. It will try to stave off post-season elimination on Sunday before a home crowd at Yankee Stadium.
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