**NEW YORK
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-- Throughout the American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees managed to mask their tendency for sloppy play by relying on their exceptional talent. Despite being the least efficient team in the majors during the regular season, marked by frequent defensive blunders, they still secured a 94-win season and a spot as AL champions.
With superstars like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto bolstering an offense that thrived on home runs, and Gerrit Cole leading a strong starting rotation, the Yankees found a formula for success in October. However, their shortcomings ultimately surfaced at the worst moment.
In Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night, a catastrophic defensive breakdown in the fifth inning led to a painful 7-6 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, marking the end of their historic comeback attempt from a 3-0 deficit in the Series.
"This is as bad as it gets," said Yankees starter Cole, who suffered through a disastrous fifth inning. After four hitless innings, Cole, pitching on four days' rest for the fourth time this season, allowed a single walk. With only 49 pitches thrown, the situation seemed manageable—until it unraveled for New York.
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