HOUSTON — One of the most rudimentary drills at the most elementary levels of baseball involves learning how to handle a fly ball hit between fielders. There are rules that dictate which fielders have priority. Sometimes coded words are used — not simply “I’ve got it” — to erase any confusion.
Some of those exercises might be in order for the Yankees.
For the third time in less than three weeks, the Yankees bungled a routine pop fly, this one proving costly in a 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros. The Yankees settled for a split of the teams’ four-game series.