Baltimore – Yankees’ Bullpen Stands Strong
The Yankees seem to be gaining some momentum as they head into October. On Sunday, the bullpen had quite an impressive outing.
In total, six relievers delivered 4²/₃ scoreless innings, effectively keeping the Orioles in check until the Yankees secured a 7-1 win in the 10th inning at Camden Yards.
In a critical moment during a tied game, Tim Hill recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning and then retired another left-handed batter to start the seventh. Meanwhile, Fernando Cruz had a notable at-bat but drew Luke Weaver into action, leading to a full base situation after Jackson Holiday’s grounder.
Devin Williams took the mound in the eighth. This was a pivotal moment, as Aaron Boone often turns to him during tight situations. Williams didn’t disappoint, striking out nine over five scoreless innings while conceding just two hits.
David Bedner took care of the ninth, walking a batter but sending the game to extra innings. In the 10th, Kamilo Doval faced a bases-loaded situation but managed to hold off the Orioles.
“Hopefully, we can keep stacking good outings,” Boone commented after the game. “Everyone did well today. Timmy made solid plays, and Devin was lights out. Kamilo showed promise too,” he added.
Over the four-game series against the Orioles, the Yankees’ bullpen yielded just one run in 11¹/₃ innings, which is impressive.
In a concerning moment during the game, Jose Caballero seemed to be in pain after a five-inning stretch and headed toward the clubhouse. However, he returned to play shortstop later in the game, contributing bunt singles and doubles.
“He’s been battling some issues with his fingers lately, so that sometimes affects his swings,” Boone explained.
The Yankees are coming off a scheduled day-off and will take on the White Sox on Tuesday, with Max Freed scheduled to pitch on Wednesday. They haven’t decided on a starter for Thursday just yet. Originally, it was Will Warren’s turn, but they’ve opted to return Carlos Rodon for an extra day as they prepare for Game 2 in the Wild Card Series.
