Daily Report – 7/30/25

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

Anthony Volpe is tied for the most errors in Major League Baseball. However, it isn’t due to a lack of defensive talent.

Last night in the Bronx, the Yankees rebounded from a poor offensive game with a 7-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. With the win, they gained 1.5 games in the American League East standings since Baltimore swept Toronto in a doubleheader. Max Fried was dominant for the Yankees, striking out nine batters while allowing four runs on a career-high 111 pitches. However, only two of the runs were earned.

Anthony Volpe made two errors in last night’s ballgame, bringing his season total to 15. “We gotta get over it. We gotta get through it,” said manager Aaron Boone when asked about Volpe’s difficult defensive night. “He’s really really good out there, and he’s clearly had some struggles. […] He’ll get through it, but obviously, there’s been some tough moments here.”

Volpe, a former Gold Glove Award winner, isn’t used to these kinds of slumps in the field. The negativity of the New York fans toward Volpe was especially loud this month, during which Volpe went 0-for-30 against fastballs on one hand and tied the league’s lead in errors on the other. “I gotta make those plays,” said Volpe. “I never really experienced something like this, but I’ve got really good guys around me.” He added, “I know the standard I have for myself. I’m just gonna keep pushing until I just prove it to myself every day.”

Fortunately, the Yankees created enough offense to win last night’s game. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Austin Wells and Ben Rice walked, and with two outs, Cody Bellinger blasted a game-tying three-run home run to right field, his 20th of the season. “I didn’t try to do too much, and I put my best swing on the ball,” said Bellinger. “We put a few really good at-bats together, and then Max [Fried] was really holding it down, pitching well, and giving us a chance.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jasson Domínguez singled and stole second base, and Ryan McMahon advanced him to third. Then, Anthony Volpe served an RBI single into center field, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead. After Austin Wells reached on a fielding error, and the Rays relieved their starter, Volpe and Wells stole bases before Volpe scored on an errant throw to third. Ben Rice later walked to put runners at the corners for Paul Goldschmidt, who singled to left field to score Wells. The Yankees now led 6-3.

Meanwhile, after giving up a home run to Jonathan Aranda in the third inning, Max Fried retired 14 consecutive batters. “Giving up the leadoff homer and getting down 3-0, it’s a tough spot,” said Fried. “But once Cody [Bellinger] hit that homer, you just know it’s a zero-zero ballgame again.” Fried’s scoreless stretch ended with two outs in the seventh inning as he walked Nick Fortes and allowed an RBI double to Taylor Walls, reducing his team’s lead to 6-4. Jonathan Loáisiga then came in for Fried, and he secured the final out of the inning while stranding Walls at second base.

Loáisiga struggled mightily since returning from Tommy John surgery, but he has now recorded three consecutive scoreless appearances. His velocity reached an impressive 99 mph in the eighth inning as he worked into and out of trouble with his sinker, escaping runners at first and second without any outs.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Anthony Volpe blasted a career-best 452-foot moonshot to right-center field, putting the Yankees ahead 7-4. However, things got tricky in the top of the ninth with Devin Williams closing out the game. He quickly surrendered a triple to Josh Lowe and a walk to José Caballero. With runners at the corners, pinch-hitter Tristan Gay grounded into a force out at second base to score Lowe, reducing the Yankees’ lead to 7-5. Then, with two outs and a runner at second base, Yandy Díaz grounded a changeup to Anthony Volpe, and he couldn’t decide whether to throw to first or second base, so he panicked and hurled a low throw to first. Paul Goldschmidt couldn’t scoop the throw, and as Volpe nearly cost his team the game, he was charged with his second error of the night.

Fortunately, with runners at second and third, Devin Williams was able to strike out Jonathan Aranda to end the ballgame. Nevertheless, Volpe’s error-filled night demonstrated just how fine the line between wins and losses is for this Yankees team. The shortstop’s confidence is dwindling each day, and one thing is certain: The Yankees cannot win a championship if their shortstop is this unreliable defensively.

Tonight at 7:05, the Yankees will look to win the third game of their four-game set against Tampa Bay (Prime Video). RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.82 ERA) will toe the slab for the Yankees against RHP Zack Littell (8-8, 3.72 ERA).

Schedule

7:05 PM: NYY vs. TB; AmazonPV; SP: RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.82 ERA)

8:00 PM: NYL at MIN; ESPN