The nightmare goes on for the Angels in MLB: a huge blunder gifts the Yankees the victory 
It was the sort of error that keeps you up for weeks. The moment Jazz Chisholm Jr. popped up that harmless little fly ball into the infield, Angels closer Jordan Romano pointed to the sky, convinced he had the second out of the ninth in the bag. But shortstop Zach Neto and third baseman Oswald Peraza both hesitated, stared at each other, and let the ball drop hopelessly between them. One breakdown in communication cost them dearly: Caballero cashed in a few moments later with a two-run double, crushing the Angels at the death, 5-4, at Yankee Stadium.
Neto takes the blame after the disaster
In the clubhouse, the mood was icy. For Kurt Suzuki, the Angels manager, the noise from the stadium doesn’t excuse everything, but it did help explain the fatal hesitation from the two players. Zach Neto, despite being 25, didn’t hide behind excuses: “That’s on me. The shortstop has priority over everyone on those balls, and I should have taken it. I take full responsibility for it.”
After that gift, Chisholm immediately stole second. Austin Wells worked a walk, and Caballero did the rest. Mike Trout, who had homered for a third straight game, even tried a desperate throw home, but Wells slid under the catcher’s tag to seal the Yankees’ heist.
Jordan Romano is running on fumes
For Jordan Romano, the damage is mounting. This was his second blown save in just three days. The 32-year-old, who opened the season with five spotless innings, has seen his ERA balloon to 8.44. Understandably frustrated, he doesn’t want to pin it all on the defence: “That’s baseball, it happens. Once a guy gets on base, it’s my job to make the right pitches after that.”
If Suzuki is sticking with Romano in the closer role for now, the pressure is building. Veteran Kirby Yates is set to begin his minor league rehab assignment, and fireballer Ben Joyce has started facing hitters again after shoulder surgery. Romano’s margin for error is now almost gone.
Learning the hard way in the Bronx
Despite those two heartbreaking losses in New York this week, the Angels (9-10) are trying to keep their heads up. “I’m not going to say it doesn’t hurt, because it does,” Suzuki admitted. “But tomorrow is another day. You forget it and move on to the next game.”
Neto said the same, keen to turn the frustration into fuel for what comes next. In the middle of the mess, one stat sums up the team’s fragile balance: after 19 games, the Angels have scored exactly as many runs as they’ve allowed (94). A competitive side, sure, but one that has to learn how to slam the door when the chance is there.
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