Ryan McMahon faced yet another wave of disappointment recently.
Diving into the bottom of the sixth inning with the Angels leading 6-0, the Yankees’ struggling third baseman decided to bunt against Reid Detmers. It did not go well—he quickly recorded an easy out.
Booing echoed through the Bronx as McMahon walked back to the dugout. His batting average sat at a meager .128, which ranks among the worst in the league after 39 at-bats.
“Detmers loves it. One pitch, one out,” Yankees announcer Michael Kay commented during the broadcast. The Yankees eventually fell 7-1, bringing their record to 9-8. “The crowd is restless,” he noted.
The Bronx crowd was not quiet about their discontent Tuesday night, and social media lit up with frustration.
“McMahon shouldn’t have tried to bunt with a 6-run deficit,” one user exclaimed on X.
Another pointed out, “Bunting right at the pitcher—do you think you can beat it out with a 12th percentile sprint speed? McMahon would!” Commenting on McMahon’s less-than-stellar speed certainly resonated.
McMahon, a left-handed hitter, still secured a spot in the lineup despite a .184 average against lefties last season, leaving teammate Ben Rice on the bench for much of the game as the Yankees struggled to hit.
Rice boasts a .273 average against left-handed pitchers this season, and his OPS stands at 1.245, significantly higher than Aaron Judge’s.
McMahon later pinch-hit for Rice in the eighth inning, managing to hit a sacrifice fly, which scored the Yankees’ sole run.
Aaron Boone shared with the Post’s Greg Joyce that he values using Rice as a pinch hitter in crucial situations, particularly against left-handed pitchers.
“I’ve learned to utilize Benny actively. Even when he’s not starting, I expect him to contribute,” Boone noted. “In his last couple of games against lefties, he’s had home runs, walks, and singles. It’s important to get him in during critical moments, even early on.”
Unfortunately, this late contribution from McMahon came after the Yankees had already allowed seven runs in the eighth.
Boone has consistently backed McMahon, emphasizing his skills on the field.
Reflecting on his recent hitting woes, McMahon stated, “If I had known what was going on, I wouldn’t think it was just a slow start. It’s frustrating not only for me but for others as well. I’ll keep working to turn things around.”
The Yankees still have two remaining games against the Angels, with Luis Gil set to pitch against Jack Kochanowitz Wednesday night.
