"This one's on me" - Yankees Alex Verdugo reflects after failing to prevent Cedric Mullins’s walk-off double against Orioles

The New York Yankees missed a chance to sweep as they gave up a 6-5 victory to the Baltimore Orioles. Before Sunday’s game, the Bronx Bombers were coming off 4-1 and 6-1 victories against the Orioles.

The club had a chance to complete a three-game sweep but missed it in the ninth inning when Alex Verdugo failed to catch a line drive hit by Orioles player Cedric Mullins. Mullins hit a double off Yankees pitcher Clay Holmes with the bases loaded, driving in two runs and securing the victory.

Alex Verdugo ran to catch the ball but fell, allowing it to slip past him. Discussing the play in a recent Yes Network interview, Verdugo said:

“Saw it coming my way, took a step in. That little step in, was enough to beat me back… just trying to do anything I can get to it… It’s the wrong first step, I mean, just leave it at that. I’d take a lot of pride out there defensively. This one’s on me.”

Verdugo's missed catch followed a fielding error by shortstop Anthony Volpe, which allowed a run on Ryan Mountcastle's hit for the Orioles, keeping the bases loaded. Shortly after, Cedric Mullins delivered the winning hit.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Trent Grisham’s single. In the fifth inning, Grisham added another run with a 375-foot homer, his sixth of the season.

Ben Rice hit a 405-foot go-ahead homer in the ninth inning, bringing in three runs for the team. The New York Yankees, with 58 wins and 40 losses, are ranked second in the AL East.

Aaron Boone discusses the team’s loss while addressing Alex Verdugo’s error

Alex Verdugo went 0-for-4 with one walk. In a post-game Yes Network interview, Yankees manager, Aaron Boone discussed Alex Verdugo’s error, saying:

"Just misread it. Simple as that. It's a play we should make, but I think he just misjudged it."

The Bronx Bombers have lost 18 out of their last 26 games. Discussing their recent loss and the team’s struggles, Boone said:

"That's a killer, right? Let's acknowledge that. And it's been rough several weeks here for us. Acknowledge that. The reality is, from the last couple of games in Tampa and into here, I feel like we're competing our asses off and starting to turn the corner and see signs we want to see. It's a great spot we're in right now."

The New York Yankees will start a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.