Devin Williams exited the mound at Yankee Stadium on Friday night to a chorus of boos. The New York Yankees’ struggles continued as they gave up three runs in the top of the 10th inning, including two home runs, resulting in a 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
Williams had been seen as a key player for the Yankees moving forward, particularly with an impressive 17 saves last year. However, he’s really struggled lately, especially since the All-Star break, with his recent outings seeing him blow saves or take losses. It’s been a rough patch for him, with fans expressing their frustrations.
After the game, he spoke to reporters, admitting, “I’m not making a pitch. It’s pretty clear how bad things are.” This serves as quite the change from earlier in the season when he seemed more in control. Since the break, he’s given up at least one run in five consecutive appearances, which is concerning to say the least.
His recent performance against the Texas Rangers was particularly disappointing, as he surrendered the game-winning home run to Jock Pederson in extra innings. The very next night, he allowed a crucial two-run single, further straining the team’s morale.
Fans were clearly upset, especially given the sold-out crowd against the Astros, a team that’s become one of their main rivals. There were audible reactions when Williams entered the game during the 10th inning, further highlighting their displeasure with how Boone has managed him in tense situations this season.
In that pivotal moment, with runners on base, Williams’ first pitch went awry, and Carlos Correa followed it up with a go-ahead single. The breaking point came with a two-run home run from Taylor Trummel, which really sealed the game for the Astros. Williams reflected on his struggles, noting it was the toughest stretch he’s faced since his time in the minors following Tommy John surgery.
Manager Aaron Boone explained Williams’ appearances lately, mentioning that other pitchers were unavailable and highlighting a need for left-handed options against right-handed batters. Despite this, Williams had pitched only a total of 12 pitches over the previous two days.
Since joining the Yankees from the Milwaukee Brewers, during which he posted an impressive record, his current form has been disappointing. With over 44 innings pitched and a current ERA of 5.73, he’ll need to find his groove again for the Yankees to regain confidence in their bullpen.
Boone expressed a desire to help Williams get back to a better form, emphasizing the importance of working on his rhythm to return to his previous level of performance.
