Tyler O’Neill Opens Up About Costly Late-Game Play Vs. Yankees

Tyler O’Neill gave the Red Sox a great chance to win with his bat Saturday night, but he wasn’t able to secure a victory with his glove.

After blasting a pair of home runs against the Yankees at Fenway Park, O’Neill had an opportunity to secure the game’s final out when Trent Grisham lifted a fly to left-center field. But the slugger appeared to have some difficulty tracking the baseball, which found the base of the Green Monster and allowed the game-tying run to score. New York went on to score three runs in the 10th and earned an 11-8 win.

The play seemed makeable on the television broadcast, but according to O’Neill, it was out of his range.

“It hit high off the wall,” O’Neill told reporters, per MassLive. “Unfortunately just out of my reach.”

Kenley Jansen, who blew his second save in as many Saturdays, didn’t dwell on the unfavorable ninth inning either. The Red Sox closer was quick to turn the page to Boston’s next challenge, which will arrive Sunday night when the American League East rivals wrap up their three-game set.

First pitch for the finale is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.