It was a harmless infield pop-up in the languorous conclusion of a blowout game.

Trailing by 8-1 in the ninth inning, the Los Angeles Angels pulled their two biggest sluggers, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. The Yankees brought in Esmil Rogers. It was mop-up duty.

And then the fly ball from Grant Green crashed to earth between first baseman Chase Headley and second baseman Jose Pirela, eliciting groans from the crowd that would only grow louder as more and more Angels base runners came aboard.

A run scored, then another. The day had begun with the Yankees talking about preserving their pitchers’ arms. Now they were forced to use Dellin Betances.

“It got a little dicey there,” Manager Joe Girardi said, understating the matter.

The Angels loaded the bases with the tying run on second base with one out, but shortstop Didi Gregorius dived to his right to make a stop and a forceout at second, most likely a game-saving play. Betances rallied to strike out Carlos Perez to end the game, an 8-7 win at Yankee Stadium.