Austin Wells Is The Reason Why The Yankees Were In The Game

Tom Byrne said Austin Wells’ baserunning mistake should not be treated as the only explanation for the Yankees’ 1–0 loss to Tampa Bay in ALDS Game 1.

Wells broke up Drew Rasmussen’s no-hit bid with a two-out double in the eighth inning, then was thrown out trying to reach third. It was New York’s only hit of the game.

“That’s not the only reason they lost,” Byrne said on Mad Dog Sports Radio Tonight. “In fact, the only reason they broke up the no-hitter is because that man made that happen.”

Byrne did not excuse Wells’ decision to keep running. He questioned the attempt to reach third while arguing that the focus on one play overlooked the pitching that had shut down the lineup.

Rasmussen struck out 10 over eight scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless ninth for the save. Jonathan Aranda’s third-inning solo homer provided the game’s only run.

The radio segment also carried Aaron Boone’s postgame response. Asked what Wells was thinking, Boone called it “not a good decision there” and said he was unsure whether Wells had seen something between first and second that prompted him to continue.

Asked about Rasmussen, Boone praised the changeup against left-handed hitters and his ability to mix the cutter with his fastballs.

“His command is just really good and kind of what sets him apart,” Boone said.

Boone said Rasmussen’s ability to locate pitches on both sides of the plate and at different heights made him difficult for the Yankees to solve.

This story covers Byrne’s reaction and the edited Aaron Boone postgame excerpt carried in the supplied recording. Boone’s answer about Game 2 cuts off and is not reconstructed.

Yankees–Rays Game 1: final score and game updates