New York Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas entered the MLB playoff conversation in the fifth inning of Game 2 in the AL wild card series, waving in Ben Rice to ultimately get thrown out at the plate.
The Yankees had just extended their lead to 2-0 on Cody Bellinger's RBI single and had runners on first and second when Luis Garcia Jr. followed with a single of his own. Rice was on second base and Rojas waved him home on the chopper hit through the hole into left field.
Nate Eaton threw home from the outfield and the ball easily beat Rice, with Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman applying the tag for the third out.
Rojas, who managed the New York Mets in 2020 and 2021, immediately started trending on social media for his decision to send Rice on the play.
In the next inning, Boston's Willson Contreras homered to half the Yankees' lead.
Nate Eaton cuts down Ben Rice at the plate to limit the damage #Postseason pic.twitter.com/PDqg2mDLEz
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees coach ridiculed for runner thrown out at home vs. Red Sox
