Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela Reacts to Controversial Non-Catch vs, Yankees in Video, IG Photo

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela appeared to have made an impressive diving catch in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees on Sunday, but the umpiring crew ruled that it hit the ground.

Rafaela reacted to the ruling on social media after the game.

"I know when a ball drops and a ball doesn't drop," Rafaela told reporters after the game. "I know I made the catch."

The game was tied 0-0 before the play, and it would have been the first out of the inning. Instead, the Yankees scored five runs after it was ruled a no-catch, completely changing the course of the game.

"Everybody was surprised by that call," pitcher Ranger Suarez said. "That was a game-changing play."

New York went on to win the game 16-1, marking the Red Sox's largest loss of the season.

Red Sox vs. Yankees (08/30/2026)

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It's hard to say whether the play being called a no-catch completely changed the game, but it's easy for the Red Sox to think that it was the turning point in the massive loss.

"It's frustrating; we had a really good baseball game right there, a zero-zero game," interim manager Chad Tracy said. "Obviously that play leads to the second and third, and (Paul Goldschmidt) rolls one up the middle and (Heliot) Ramos caps it with the home run. All of a sudden it's a five-run inning."

Boston has now lost four of its last five, but the Red Sox are still sitting in third place in the AL East and are five games ahead in the wild-card race.