Yankees' Chisholm Says 'Nobody Could Throw Me Out' After Controversial SB, Clutch Run

New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was confident after his controversial stolen base during the team's 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

"Nobody could throw me out," Chisholm told reporters after the game (1:20 mark). "Yeah, that ain't happening."

"I knew I was in there," he said, via ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "That's what we were talking about at second base, actually. [Massey] was like, 'I put down a good tag.' I said, 'You did put down a good tag. That doesn't mean I'm out.'"

Chisholm's stolen base in the seventh inning of the game was challenged by the Royals, but the call stood after replay.

Chisholm also praised teammate Alex Verdugo to reporters after the game:

We all know Alex Verdugo—he's been in big moments, played for big teams. This is nothing for him. I was just talking to someone earlier, right before I came here. He lives for this. He's played in big cities before—Boston, L.A., and I'm not talking about the Angels. So, for me, he's been doing this. He's almost a career .300 hitter. He's done it before. I love it. Verdugo is my guy, and I'll always have his back.

It was an extremely important call, as the 26-year-old ended up scoring the go-ahead run for New York following a two-out single by Verdugo.

Kansas City was unable to score throughout the remaining two innings, falling in an early 1-0 series deficit.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro didn't agree with the call at second base following the replay review.

"I haven't gotten any sort of explanation," Quatraro told the media following the game. "In my opinion, I thought we had a really good argument to get that overturned."

Chisholm went 1-for-4 in the opening game of the series, as he was one of six members of New York's lineup to record a hit.

Saturday's game was an intense back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than one run despite five total lead changes, the highest single-game total in MLB postseason history (h/t ESPN's Jeff Passan).

Chisholm's speed on the base paths was one of the main reasons why the Yankees acquired him in a trade with the Miami Marlins on July 27. He finished the regular season with 40 steals, the sixth-best mark in the majors.

New York will attempt to take a commanding 2-0 series lead at home in Game 2 on Monday at 7:38 p.m. ET.