“Have some more chicken parm”; “This team is so unserious right now” - Yankees fans react as Anthony Vople forgets to touch home plate before the tag

Fans reacted as the New York Yankees continued their dismal run after going down 5-3 at home to their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the opening clash of their three-game series on Friday evening.

The Yankees committed a major baserunning gaffe, as Anthony Volpe didn't hustle to touch home plate before the Red Sox could make a tag at second base to complete an inning-ending double-play.

As expected, the lack of urgency from the Yankees shortstop didn't bode well with fans, who are already anxious about the massive dip in the team's performance over the past month. They vented their frustrations over the attitude of the players on social media.

“Have some more chicken parm,” said one annoyed fan.

"This team is so unserious right now," feels another disgruntled supporter.

"Where's the hustle for all those hundreds of millions of dollars? Pathetic," wrote another.

"That's as lazy as it gets," was the opinion of another fan.

Although the 23-year-old Anthony Volpe has largely taken the blame, some fans felt that a seasoned veteran like D.J. Lemahieu should understand the situation better.

"LeMahieu should get just as much blame. How do you not know you have to get in a rundown there?," asked one fan.

"LeMahieu is the story here. Didn't run to first and then ran right into this tag when it's Baseball 101 that you're supposed to get into a rundown," remarked another fan.

The incident occurred in the bottom of the third inning. With the score tied at 0-0 as Yankees rookie Ben Rice came up to the plate with one out.

D.J. LeMahieu was standing on first base, while Anthony Volpe was on third. With the count at 1-1, Rice hit a slow grounder to the Red Sox first baseman, who stepped on the bag to get the first out before throwing to second base to turn the double-play.

Volpe dashed out of third base to score a run but inexplicably slowed down his pace as he approached home plate. Meanwhile, LeMahieu played his part in the baserunning error by rushing to second base instead of holding his run to force the Red Sox into a rundown.

Thus, LeMahieu got tagged before Volpe could score the run, with Volpe jogging casually towards home plate while watching the play.

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Pressure mounting on the Yankees with no end in sight to slump

The New York Yankees are gong through a massive slump with a woeful 4-15 record since June 14. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

The New York Yankees enjoyed an excellent start to the season, holding the best record in the MLB after going 28 games above .500 on June 14. Since then, though, they have only managed a miserable 4-13 win-loss record, and there seems to be no end in sight to their extended slump.

As a result, the Yankees have dropped to second in the American League East, with a two-game deficit over the Baltimore Orioles. Thanks to their excellent form in the early months of the season, though, the Yankees remain on pace to reach the playoffs comfortably, as they hold a five-game lead in the wildcard standings.