CHICAGO — If the Yankees had told Jake Cousins in advance that he might be the pitcher to close out Tuesday’s win over the White Sox, Cousins would have had plenty of time to think it over.
In fact, the late notice may have helped him secure his first career save to help the Yankees out of a pinch.
On a night when Clay Holmes couldn’t pitch after throwing 45 pitches Sunday and Tommy Kahnle found himself in an early pinch while attempting a four-out save in the bottom of the ninth, manager Aaron Boone told Cousins to get the job done, and the Illinois native was up to the task in a 4-1 win at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“I think [bullpen coach Mike Harkey] “He knows what to do out there,” Cousins said. “The phone didn’t ring before he told me to go. They must have told him beforehand and he just knew to save first and not let him sit out. The adrenaline was definitely going, so I’m grateful for that.”
Cousins, in particular, was surrounded by many family and friends in attendance, having grown up 45 minutes outside of downtown St. Charles, Illinois.
“It was a lot of fun,” Cousins said. “We had a lot of family there this year. [week]”And to get that first save here, at home, in front of my family, it’s really special.”
Acquired from the White Sox in a financial deal on March 31, Cousins has carved out a valuable role in the bullpen with his strikeout-prone pitching.
The Yankees needed that benefit more than ever Tuesday night, as Kahnle put runners on second and third in the opening innings of the bottom of the ninth.
As the inning began, Harkey told Cousins to begin warming up, and he was soon in the game.
Cousins struck out Corey Lee and then walked Miguel Vargas on four pitches to load the bases.
But he didn’t succumb to the pressure, finishing the game with a flyout and another strikeout.
“He did a good job in that situation, sticking to who he is and what he does well,” Boone said. “He got another strikeout with that slider.”
