Volpe misplay costs Yankees in 10-run loss to Red Sox

The New York Yankees faced a costly setback Friday night when a defensive miscue by shortstop Anthony Volpe helped the Boston Red Sox pull away in a 10-run loss at Yankee Stadium. With a runner on second and nobody out in the ninth inning, Volpe fielded a routine ground ball but threw to second base instead of first, allowing the inning to continue and Rafaela to reach safely. The misplay came as Yankees fans voiced their frustration, and manager Aaron Boone offered a defense that left many players and observers surprised.

The sequence unfolded with Boston holding a sizable lead in the late stage of the game. Volpe’s throw did not produce an out, and the bases remained loaded, a development that amplified the night’s broader concerns about the reigning highly touted prospect’s defense and the team’s ability to close tight games. Boone acknowledged that the play was not ideal, characterizing it as a heads-up attempt that, in his view, almost produced a scoring opportunity for the Yankees. “It wasn’t the right play, obviously,” Boone said, but he framed it as a fallible, aggressive decision that he saw as part of Volpe’s on-field mindset.

The reaction from the stands and from fans...