ARLINGTON, Texas — The moment Aaron Boone started walking toward the mound in the ninth inning Wednesday, David Bednar knew exactly what was coming. The Yankees manager was ready to pull his newest reliever from a pressure-packed situation with two runners on base and the game hanging in the balance.
What Boone didn’t expect was the look he got from his trade deadline acquisition.
“I was going to take him out honestly,” Boone said while admitting how the reliever’s eyes changed it all. “He gave me a look like, ‘No, you’re not (taking me out).’”
It pressed the manager on the other direction. He told Bednar, “You sure?”
“Yeah, let’s go,” the right hander replied. “I got this guy.”
Seven pitches later, he gave the Yankees a gutsy win.
“He was right, that’s a dog effort right there,” Boone said. “I love that mentality. That’s who he’s been.”
That brief mound conversation became the defining moment of New York’s season-saving win, as Bednar convinced his manager to let him face cleanup hitter Adolis Garcia with the tying run on second base. The right-hander rewarded that faith by striking out Garcia on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, completing a gutsy 42-pitch save that snapped the Yankees’ five-game losing streak.
Bednar dominates in Yankees debut save
The performance marked Bednar’s first save in pinstripes since arriving from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline just one week earlier. Bednar got the final five outs, all on strikeouts, in their 3-2 win at Texas on Wednesday, working 1 2/3 innings while throwing a season-high 42 pitches.
The save was Bednar’s 18th save overall this season and came in just his third appearance for the Yankees. More importantly, it kept New York ahead of Texas for the American League’s third and final wild-card spot with 47 games remaining in the regular season.
Bednar entered in the eighth inning with one out and immediately took control, striking out the first four batters he faced. The trouble came in the ninth when he walked Corey Seager on six pitches and allowed Marcus Semien to ground a 3-1 pitch through the right side for a single.
“I was just kind of getting my mind right to face García,” Bednar said. “I told [Boone] I wanted him, and he agreed. And I just wanted to bear down and get that last one.”
Bednar faced questions about his apparent frustration in the ninth inning.
“I’m not even thinking about that,” he said. “I’m just thinking about challenging that guy. I just want to get outs.”
Manager shows faith in newest reliever
The mound visit represented a critical decision point for Boone, who had every intention of removing Bednar after 35 pitches. The Yankees had closer Camilo Doval available for an emergency situation, despite having pitched on back-to-back days.
But something about Bednar’s demeanor convinced the skipper to change course.
“I said, ‘Are you sure?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go — I got this guy,’ and we rolled with it,” Boone explained. “That’s a dog effort, right there. I love that mentality.”
The faith proved justified when Bednar struck out García to end the threat and preserve the Yankees’ slim lead. It was the third time this season Bednar recorded five outs, and the second in his week with the Yankees.
Yankees avoid sweep, maintain playoff position
Wednesday’s victory prevented what could have been a disastrous sweep for the Yankees, who entered the series already struggling through a five-game losing streak. The Yankees (61-54) avoided being swept in Texas for the first time since 2010, and kept the Rangers from moving past them for the American League’s third and final wild-card spot.
The win was crucial for a team that had managed just one victory in six games on their road trip through Miami and Texas. Paul Goldschmidt provided the decisive blow with a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh inning that broke a 2-2 tie.
“That was awesome, especially that last one,” Goldschmidt said of Bednar’s performance. “To go out there and make those pitches was huge.”
Bednar’s workload raises eyebrows
The 42-pitch outing was Bednar’s most since 43 in an eight-out save for the Pirates at St. Louis on June 15, 2022. For a reliever who typically works in shorter bursts, the extended appearance demonstrated both his conditioning and determination.
“I just wanted to finish that one out,” Bednar said after recording his season-high pitch count. “That was huge for [Boone] to allow me an opportunity to do that and I’m glad I was able to come through.”
Carlos Rodón, who started the game for New York, praised his teammate’s effort in clutch moments.
“He was able to put the team on his back right there and win the game,” Rodón said.
Trade deadline acquisition paying dividends
The Yankees acquired Bednar from Pittsburgh as part of a bullpen overhaul at the trade deadline, surrendering prospects Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez. The 30-year-old right-hander arrived with an impressive track record, having converted 39 of 42 save opportunities for the Pirates while posting a 1.70 ERA over 39 appearances.
Wednesday’s performance showcased exactly why general manager Brian Cashman targeted Bednar. The two-time All-Star has been dominant since rejoining Pittsburgh’s rotation in mid-April, including a stretch of 23 consecutive scoreless outings from May 24 to July 26.
“I’ve been pounding the table a little bit for a while now with him,” Boone said before the trade.
Critical juncture for Yankees season
The victory provided much-needed relief for a Yankees team facing mounting pressure in the playoff race. New York entered Wednesday’s game knowing that a sweep would have allowed Texas to leapfrog them in the wild-card standings.
Instead, the Yankees flew home with their playoff positioning intact, though still facing significant challenges ahead. They have a day off before opening a three-game series against AL West-leading Houston at home on Friday night after completing their difficult road trip.
The Yankees finished just 1-5 on the six-game swing through Miami and Texas, highlighting the importance of Wednesday’s escape act. With the American League wild-card race tightening daily, every victory becomes crucial for teams fighting to extend their seasons.
Bednar’s willingness to battle through adversity and convince his manager to stick with him epitomized the kind of competitive fire the Yankees will need down the stretch. His first save in pinstripes may have required 42 pitches and a heated discussion with his manager, but it kept New York’s playoff hopes very much alive.
“That’s a dawg effort right there,” Boone said, perfectly capturing the grittiness his team displayed when it mattered most.
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