KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Aaron Boone has put the jigsaw puzzle together perfectly.
On Wednesday, four relief pitchers combined to get the final 13 outs and Giancarlo Stanton's go-ahead homer kept the score tied for long as the Yankees defeated the Royals 3-2 in Game 3 of the ALDS.
A great defensive dash didn't hurt either.
Of the 13 outs recorded by the bullpen, only one was a strikeout. This is a testament to why the Royals are such a mean opponent, and why the Yankees have been incredibly effective on defense despite having players out of position all over the diamond.
The Yankees had the sixth-best bullpen ERA (3.62) during the regular season despite the variables, but it's safe to say this group has never been as strong as it is now.
Neither of the two relievers acquired at the trade deadline are on the ALDS roster as other players have gotten healthy.
Luke Weaver, who has become almost automatic since taking over the role in September, pitched a climactic ninth inning, holding the last five batters out.
Pinch hitter Tommy Pham, the Royals' last hope of causing an upset, grounded out on the first pitch of his final at-bat.
Weaver saved the Yankees' two wins in this series (two one-run games) and has two days off in between, so he should be fresh if he has a chance to finish the series on Thursday.
Relegated closer Clay Holmes, like David Robertson of old, was used in the playoffs to play a key role in cleaning up mid-inning messes, but after the Royals scored two runs in the fifth inning, the corner He probably got his biggest out when he blocked a runner with a . inning.
He used two consecutive 97 mph sinkers to induce a fly to center field from Vinny Pasquantino.
Holmes pitched until the sixth inning, with the score tied at 2-2, 1-2-3.
Tommy Kahnle (1-0) was equally impressive, retiring all four batters he faced.
He was trusted to start in the eighth inning and play against the top of the lineup, Michael Massey (and get a strikeout), but Boone wanted his best reliever to match up with the Royals' best hitter.
Weaver was greeted by Bobby Witt Jr. with a single from the left side.
So defensive highlights entered the equation.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe made a diving catch behind second base, robbing Pascantino of a hit that would have likely put runners on first and third base with one out.
Anyway, the runners went to the corners with two outs, but Weaver retired Yuli Gurriel with a fly to center field.
