Forget the long ball.
The Yankees have discovered a new offensive weapon.
At least as long as Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo is on the mound.
Cantillo, 24, threw four wild pitches while facing four batters Monday night, and the lack of control allowed the Yankees to take command of Game 1 in the ACLS at Yankee Stadium.
Joey Cantillo #54 of the Cleveland Guardians is pulled from the game during the fourth inning.
The only pitcher to throw more in one postseason appearance is Rick Ankiel, who had five in Game 1 of the 2000 NLDS when developed a case of the yips for the Cardinals that never went away.
Ankiel ultimately gave up pitching to become a hitter.
Cantillo entered Monday’s game with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning to try to keep the Guardians in a manageable 1-0 hole.
He spiked a ball that allowed Aaron Judge to score and then fired one to the backstop that allowed the slow-footed Giancarlo Stanton to score.
Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a wild pitch to New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) during the fourth inning.
Both runs were charged to starter Alex Cobb’s record.
The wildness continued into the fourth inning when Gleyber Torres led off with a walk and then advanced 180 feet on two more wild pitches before Cantillo was mercifully pulled.
Torres eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Judge.
Making the second postseason appearance of his young career after working one clean inning in the ALDS, Cantillo was all over the place.
Joey Cantillo #54 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after a wild pitch during the 3rd inning of Game One.
He threw just seven of 21 pitches for strikes, walking three of the four batters he faced in a 1/3 of an inning (Alex Verdugo strikeout).
Cantillo threw four wild pitches in 38 2/3 innings during the regular season.
