Yankees' Austin Wells has 'challenge of the season' to help Carlos Rodon through first start off IL

The Yankees, on the strength of Trent Grisham, pulled out a 3-1 win over the Orioles on Tuesday night. 

But the game could have been very different if not for ABS.

In the second inning with the game still scoreless, the Orioles loaded the bases thanks in large part to a fielding error by Jazz Chisholm Jr. after the second base umpire screened him on a groundball. What could have been an inning-ending doubleplay turned into a massive jam for Carlos Rodon and the Yankees.

Rodon would wind up striking out Carlos Narvaez before Jackson Holliday stepped into the batter's box with two outs. After Rodon got ahead 0-2, the southpaw threw a fastball away and a bit high. Holliday didn't bite, but Austin Wells hopped up to head into the dugout but stopped once he realized homeplate umpire Will Little didn't ring up the young Orioles infielder. 

After a few seconds, ABS confirmed that it was a strike and the Yankees escaped.

Rodon escapes he bases loaded jam after the error from Jazz pic.twitter.com/BVZUdyUPTL

"I thought it was a little closer to the zone, but it was a strike. I was pretty confident," Wells said after the game. "It’s big time. ABS allows us to change the game both ways. Luckily, we have it and able to convert it there."

It was a risky challenge by Wells since the Yankees were down to their last one after an ill-timed challenge by Heliot Ramos in the first inning. 

"I was confident it was a strike; it ended up barely clipping," Rodon said. "It was a great challenge in the situation since we were down to one. I was confident in the challenge and I’m gald he did to get out of the inning. It worked out."

Ramos wasn't the only ABS offender on Tuesday, as Spencer Jones wasted a challenge in the fourth. Manager Aaron Boone said they were not great challenges after the game, but had to praise Wells for his game-changing one earlier in the game.

"We might have had the best challenge of the season by Wellsy, if you think about it," Boone said. "Bases loaded, Jackson Holliday, we’re already down a challenge to get that one. It could be a completely different night if he doesn’t challenge that. And Jackson gets on and Rodon is shorter. A couple of not great ones, but one of the best ones of the season by Austin."

Tuesday was Rodon's first start since June after he was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation. While his pitch count was monitored -- Rodon tossed 66 pitches -- the southpaw gave the Yankees enough, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in four innings. 

"Like to fill up the zone more, get ahead sooner. First-pitch strikes a little better, but I was able to compete," Rodon said of his start. "Limited pitch count, defensively we were good. Tough play by Jazz, getting screened by the umpire. It’s our job to pick each other up, he’s picked me up before. I was happy to be able to, to keep the game close."

"I thought he did really well and to give us four strong innings, hold them to one run there," Boone said of Rodon. "Set us up to win the game."