The New York Yankees lost Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays after going with an opener strategy. After winning Game 1, they went on to lose the series in five games.

Brian Cashman defended the decision to go with an opener while meeting with the media on Wednesday.

"I thought that this was sound strategy that ultimately by performance, just didn't work out," Cashman said.

The Yankees started Deivi Garcia in Game 2 but did not stick with him long. They used him as an opener before the club turned the ball over to J.A. Happ as the bulk innings reliever.

"Ultimately, we didn't ask Deivi Garcia to do something he wasn't used to, he was asked to start," Cashman said. "We didn't ask J.A. Happ to do something he wasn't used to doing. I know he's a starter but he's had 15 career postseason appearances in his entire career. You know how many starts he's had? He's had four starts in the postseason, so his whole postseason career is coming out of the pen typically."