McCann defends Sanchez after dropped ball at home leads to walk-off
Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann doesn't think fellow backstop Gary Sanchez warrants criticism for a dropped ball at home plate that led to a dramatic walk-off Game 2 defeat on Saturday.
"It's such a tough play. I don't think at all he should get blamed for anything. I mean that's a play where you don't know where the runner is at. You literally catch and five," McCann told ESPN's Marly Rivera postgame.
"I don't think it's fair to be 24 years old and to carry a pitching staff and to be learning. Unless you put the gear on and you know what it's like to put the hours in the video room to carry a staff. That is not an easy staff to catch. Guys that have splits, and they're throwing for strikes, and you got to frame them, and then they bounce them. It's really hard to block a split-finger fastball especially when they throw them for strikes as well.
" ... Gary is one of the best catchers in baseball and he's going to be that for a long, long time. I think his defense is really good."
After Carlos Correa ripped a ball to the gap, outfielder Aaron Judge would relay to shortstop Didi Gregorius, whose throw clearly beat Jose Altuve at the dish. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Sanchez couldn't corral the short hop, leading to the loss.
"The bottom line is he's going to be out and I dropped the ball," Sanchez told Dan Martin of the New York Post, taking responsibility for the play.
Game 3 will be played Monday in New York as the Yankees attempt to rally from a tough 2-0 series deficit.