At the trade deadline, it was clear the Yankees needed a closer, with Clay Holmes struggling in that role for over a month.
Instead, general manager Brian Cashman acquired Mark Leiter Jr. and Enil de los Santos, with Cashman saying he wants to give Aaron Boone “a lot of options to get through late games.” said [as possible]. I don't see clay as a problem. ”
Who would have thought that the closer the Yankees needed was already in the clubhouse?
Holmes was then replaced by Luke Weaver at the end of the game, and in Game 1 of the ALDS vs. Kansas City in the Bronx on Saturday, Holmes had five outs before Weaver closed it out, giving Holmes a 6-5 victory. . He accomplished that with a four-out save.
While this was Holmes' latest success in the playoffs as he went 9/3 shutout innings in the postseason, Weaver was outstanding in his first playoff appearance.
Holmes came away impressed with his substitutions, especially Weaver, who did it over two innings.
“It's not easy, the last three outs,” Holmes said. “To enter [to the dugout] And it's hard to cool down and come back. What he's doing is a big boost for the team. ”
On Saturday, Holmes provided a similar stimulus.
After Gerrit Cole was batted out over the fifth inning and was replaced by Tim Hill, Anthony Volpe's throwing error resulted in one out and runners on second and third base.
Hill allowed a two-run hit to pinch hitter Garrett Hampson, and Holmes hit to center fielder Michael Garcia.
Michael Massie reached with an infield hit, but Holmes grounded out Bobby Witt Jr. to third base, and the Yankees ended the sixth inning with a one-run lead.
The Yankees tied the game on Austin Wells' RBI in the bottom of the inning, and Holmes started in the seventh inning.
Despite the dangerous left-handed slugger Vinny Pasquantino leading off, Holmes hit him to left field.
Salvador Perez grounded out and Yuli Gurriel popped out for Holmes' fifth and final out.
Thanks to Holmes' performance, the Yankees took the lead for good in the seventh inning with Alex Verdugo's scoring run.
Weaver started the game in the eighth inning and retired the top of the Kansas City batting lineup, including Witt, to close out the victory.
“He was great,” Boone said of Weaver. “It's not easy to be at the top of that standings right after the eighth inning, especially in his first playoff game. And he did it.”
They were part of a bullpen that pitched well down the stretch, and their numbers should be tested this postseason, especially since Cole didn't get an out in the sixth inning in the opener.
