You might not see a better all-around defensive play than what the Yankees pulled off to finish the seventh inning Thursday night.

Jose Altuve smoked a 106.7-mph dart that short-hopped and knocked down Gleyber Torres, but the second baseman’s glove vacuumed up the ball, which he flipped – from his back – to Oswald Peraza. The shortstop, in his first postseason start, had to reach behind him for the ball. He tapped second base with his back to first base before twirling and throwing. The ball bounced several feet before it reached Anthony Rizzo, but the first baseman – hours after he was named a finalist for the Gold Glove – picked it with his backhand and allowed a small fist pump after completing the double play.

This was the type of defense the Yankees played throughout Game 2. Luis Severino was mostly excellent, as were the relievers who followed. The Yankees’ bats were better than they had been against Justin Verlander on Wednesday.

But the Yankees were not perfect in each facet, which led to a 3-2 loss at Minute Maid Park and an 0-2 ALCS hole before the series shifts to The Bronx on Saturday. The Yankees can clearly play with an Astros team that looks to be MLB’s best, but merely playing very well does not suffice. If the Yankees slip, the Yankees lose.