Oswaldo Cabreras second pitch-clock violation of the season came at the worst time for the Yankees. Leading off the ninth, with the Yankees down a run to the Cardinals, Cabrera took a ball and forced a 3-2 count. He stepped out of the batters box. He fiddled with his gloves. He took half of a swing. Explore More But home plate umpire Ben May ruled that Cabrera wasnt engaged by the eight-second mark, so Cabrera one ball away from potentially drawing a walk with the top of the order waiting was ruled out, something he called completely my fault, and the Yankees failed to generate a run the rest of the inning during . Oswaldo Cabrera struck out in the ninth inning on a clock violation. Robert Sabo for NY Post I thought that I was in time, Cabrera said, and I dont know if I was or not, but at the same time, Harmon Killibrew Jersey its my fault. So I have to get better in that situation because [those are] the rules. While manager Aaron Boone hadnt watched a replay with the clock synced to the plate camera, he acknowledged that there wasnt much of a case to make with May. Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley had stepped off the mound after his slider cro sed low for ball three. Boone noticed Cabrera who said he glanced up with 10 seconds remaining hurrying to get in. Oswaldo Cabrera initially thought he was ready in time. Robert Sabo for NY Post So I gue s he wasnt engaged by eight seconds, Boone said. When MLB introduced the pitch clock last year, most of the buzz revolved around the pitching adjustments. The rules required them to speed up 15 seconds in between pitches with the bases empty, 18 seconds in between with someone on. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! The clock was even floated as a reason behind a surge in arm injuries earlier this season, leading to public jabs between MLB and the players union. Yankees hitters have committed 13 violations four in 2023, nine now in 2024 involving the timer, but Cabreras occurred at a critical juncture of the game, with Giancarlo Stanton blasting a bases-clearing double with two outs the previous frame to pull them within a run. Aaron Boone argued the call to no avail. Robert Sabo for NY Post Juan Soto then doubled with two outs in the ninth, too. We know the rules, Boone said. Weve all played with them now for a couple years, so its on all of us. Cabrera, who finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, received just the second start of his career at first base Saturday. Boone said pregame that Cabrera the 25-year-old who has done a little bit of everything for the Yankees, logging time at every position besides center field and catcher this year deserved additional opportunities with his production the last month. Anthony Rizzo likely returning from his rehab a signment Sunday will limit the amount of opportunities at first the rest of the season, too. One violation, though, added a sour ending to all of that. Trevor Richards Jersey