If DJ LeMahieu ran slower, the Yankees would have scored a run.
If Anthony Volpe ran faster, the Yankees would have scored a run.
One all-around bad baserunning play conspired to cost the Yankees.
In the bottom of the third inning of Friday’s series-opener against the Red Sox in The Bronx, Volpe was on third base and LeMahieu on first with one out.
Ben Rice hit a ground ball to first baseman Romy Gonzalez, who stepped on the bag and threw to second base, where shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela awaited.
If Volpe crossed home before the double play was completed, the run would have counted.
But Volpe did not run hard and was still a few steps away from the plate when Rafaela caught the ball.
If LeMahieu slammed on the brakes and tried to reverse his way to first base, perhaps an extra second or two would have enabled Volpe to score.
But LeMahieu simply redirected himself away from the baseline, tagged by Rafaela shortly before Volpe touched the plate.
The double play kept the game scoreless.
The Yankees entered play having lost 13 of 17.
Mostly their pitching and hitting have failed them, though their effort level recently has gone under the microscope after center fielder Trent Grisham did not charge a routine single in Thursday’s loss and booted the ball, enabling a Reds baserunner to take an extra base.