Yankees' Cabrera takes blame for costly pitch-clock strikeout

The pitch clock claimed another victim Saturday.

With the New York Yankees trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 to begin the bottom of the ninth, Oswaldo Cabrera was called out on strikes for taking too long to get set in the batter's box.

Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley then navigated around a Juan Soto double and an intentional walk of Aaron Judge to escape with his MLB-leading 42nd save.

Cabrera took responsibility for the blunder postgame.

"Obviously, I thought that I was on time," he told reporters. "I don't know if I was or not, but at the same time, I know it was my fault, so I have to get better in that situation and with those things with the rules."

The loss dropped New York to 79-57 and shrunk its AL East lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles to one game.