The Yankees took two of three from the Astros in what turned into one of the more contentious series you’ll see this season. From pitcher-catcher feuds to strike zone arguments, this one had everything.
Thursday’s finale brought its own dose of drama when Aaron Boone had umpires conduct a bat check on Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell. The pinch-hitter struck out in his first at-bat, then doubled off the Crawford Boxes in his second plate appearance.
That’s when things got interesting.
Following the extra-base hit, umpires inspected Trammell’s bat and confiscated it. Trammell wasn’t happy about it afterward, voicing his displeasure to reporters.
Boone defended the move to YES Network after the game: “We noticed it and the league maybe thought it was illegal too.”
The Yankees manager was quick to clarify he wasn’t making accusations – just acting on curiosity about the bat’s appearance. When discussing the wear patterns, Boone said: “I don’t know if it was just natural or if it was… I don’t know and I don’t want to accuse Taylor.”
But he doubled down on MLB backing his suspicion.
“We noticed it though on video while we were here and we actually mentioned it to the league and they said, no that looks like an illegal bat.”
The league hasn’t made any statement on Trammell’s equipment yet. What makes this interesting is that Boone felt confident enough to request the check, suggesting the bat’s condition was pretty obvious from the dugout.
It’s just another chapter in what’s becoming a heated rivalry between these teams. The Astros and Yankees seem to find new ways to create tension every time they meet, and equipment checks are becoming part of the modern game’s theater.
