The New York Yankees shook up their lineup before staving off elimination Sunday night with a 4-2 win over the Guardians in Cleveland.
Rookie Oswaldo Cabrera replaced Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop, while Aaron Hicks took over for Cabrera in left field.
The moves came after defensive miscues from Kiner-Falefa cost the Yankees in their 6-5 loss Saturday to the Guardians.
Manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday’s game he felt Kiner-Falefa was “pressing,” which led to the decision.
“You know, playing a little bit not to make that mistake,” Boone said. “And I think that’s gotten in his way a little bit. So I just felt like I needed to do this today. I still expect him to play a huge role for us in what we hope is a couple more weeks of baseball, but I felt like today it was something that was the right thing to do.”
Cabrera, an infielder by trade, was playing out of position in left field and failed to keep a ball in front of him in the ninth inning that turned a single into a double. He slotted back into his more natural position Sunday.
Boone said Cabrera would “probably” stay at shortstop for Game 5.
Hicks, meanwhile, saw his first action of the series. He went 0 for 2 with a walk.
Boone also reiterated before the game that his decision not to use Clay Holmes in Game 3 was due to the closer’s recent shoulder issue and some minor soreness Holmes reported after his outing on Friday.
Holmes pitched the eighth inning in Game 4, striking out Amed Rosario and All-Star Jose Ramirez before Wandy Peralta finished in the ninth for the save.
Game 5 will be played Monday in New York. The winner will face the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle contributed to this report.