Three Yankees’ bullpen did its jobs, and the team beat the Guardians 4-1 in Game 1 of the ALDS on Tuesday night in The Bronx. The Yankees had a three-run lead in the sixth inning, and Clay Holmes got the save.
Before the playoffs, the Yankees’ bullpen was one of the biggest questions about the team. Injuries and inconsistency had left them without a set closer or clear roles at the most important time of the year. That meant that it was up to manager Aaron Boone to handle the high-stakes late innings.
However, the Yankees‘ first try with a collective bullpen in the playoffs went very well. With a 4-1 lead, Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, and Holmes came together starting in the seventh inning to seal the victory. They proved critics wrong and ended apprehensions.
Manager Boone admired the Yankees’ bullpen and said:
“It’s all hands on deck, and everyone is going to have to play an important role on a given night. [Loaisiga] coming in and getting a big double play, getting us out of an inning there, getting us out of a jam. Obviously Wandy coming in and being real efficient going through that lefty lane. And then Clay, really good to get him back out there. I thought he threw the ball really well.”
Holmes, who was out with a strained shoulder, and Peralta, who had a tight thoracic spine, were both making their first appearances since getting hurt. Holmes had last pitched on September 26, and Peralta had last pitched on September 18.
In the eighth inning, Peralta came in with a runner on first and no outs. He quickly got Josh Naylor to hit into a double play. He then got the next two batters to strike out.
He did this until the ninth inning when he gave the ball to Holmes.
Holmes’s first pitch hit the pinch-hitter Owen Miller, but he came back to get a groundout and a flyout, which ended the game.
The All-Star closer’s availability in the Yankees’ bullpen was briefly in doubt since he was supposed to throw live batting practice on Monday. But after a great bullpen pitching during the practice session and feeling strong, the team brass overcame the uncertainty and listed him to pitch in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Later, Holmes said:
“Felt like physically, I was where I needed to be. I didn’t feel like I had any limitations. I didn’t want to throw to hitters [Monday] because I felt like I could get some outs in the game [today] if needed. So we held off and I was able to go today.
(online pharmacy edGood win for us.”
Boone always made sure he had more than one choice in the Yankees’ bullpen. He started to warm up Peralta when he brought in Loaisiga to replace Cole. Loaisiga was replaced by Peralta, and Holmes began to throw in the bullpen. Even when Holmes came in the ninth, Jameson Taillon got right up and started throwing.
Peralta said through an interpreter, “We wanted to keep the same harmony going back there in the Yankees’ bullpen.” “You know there are times when you might have to go into the game, and those times might be hard, but you want to keep the bullpen calm.”
Does this mean all worries about the Yankees’ bullpen are over?
