BALTIMORE — Clay Holmes didn’t get much support in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Orioles, but he also wasn’t at his best.
The closer, who made the American League All-Star team for the second time in three years, missed the second of his past four save opportunities.
The main culprits at Camden Yards, by their own admission, were Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo, both of whom lost the game with defensive blunders in the bottom of the ninth.
However, Holmes was once again not at his best, giving up three goals before the All-Star break.
As Aaron Boone said, “Clay did his job. … He wasn’t perfect, but he pitched well enough.”
Barring a defensive collapse, the Yankees would leave Baltimore with a third straight win, but Holmes also allowed two walks and a single before the Volpe and Verdugo blunders.
The closer called his lack of control “not ideal.”
“I wasn’t at my best, but I fought as hard as I could,” Holmes said. “It made it a little tough.”
Kyle Stowers pinch-hit for the leadoff batter and singled before getting Cole Cowser out on a grounder.
However, Holmes then walked pinch hitter Ryan O’Hearn, putting a runner on base with the tying run still on base.
Holmes recovered and got Gunnar Henderson out, looking for the second out, then switch-hitter Adley Rutschman walked to load the bases, but errors by Volpe and Verdugo removed Holmes.
What Volpe called a “routine” grounder to short turned into an ugly error, Volpe’s shaky footwork caused the ball to fly away, allowing Cowser to score and bring the team within one.
Then Cedric Mullins Jr. hit a fly ball to left field the other way that Verdugo couldn’t catch.
The ball landed over his head for a game-ending double.
“They’re our best defenders,” Holmes said of Verdugo and Volpe. “Volpe’s a Gold Glove winner and he’s great. [Verdugo]”He plays really hard. I’d pick him over anybody in left field. Those two are hard to play, but we all know that’s not how they play.”
It was a disappointing end to the first half of the season for the Yankees and Holmes.
Holmes was largely dominant through his first 30 games but has not been as effective in his last 10, allowing 13 hits and 12 runs (eight earned) in just 9 2/3 innings.
The two walks issued Sunday were Holmes’ first during this tough period.
