Yankees pay price for Boone’s miscalculation, Williams unravels again

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Williams sank the Yankees following manager Boone’s questionable decision to replace Cruz against the Rays.

The rain wasn’t the only thing coming down hard at Yankee Stadium on Monday night. Following multiple weather delays, the New York Yankees watched a comfortable lead wash away as their bullpen imploded in a gut-wrenching 4-3 defeat to the San Diego Padres.

Despite Carlos Rodón‘s dominant outing and early offensive contributions, the evening spiraled into disaster – courtesy of Devin Williams’ ineffectiveness and Luke Weaver’s inability to escape trouble, all following yet another controversial pitching change by manager Aaron Boone. KHMER55

Rodon delivers, but Yankees can’t close

Carlos Rodon showcased his resurgence with authority, tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings while surrendering just three hits and a lone walk, complemented by five strikeouts. He departed with a seemingly secure 3-0 advantage and appeared on track for his fourth straight win. The Yankees had triumphed in Rodón’s previous three starts, and his ERA has improved to an impressive 2.96 following his rocky season.

“Just getting in the zone, attacking with the fastball, better places with the fastball, and just kind of pitching to contact,” Rodon said, describing how he managed to cut down on walks. “Let the defense do the work.”

Carlos Rodon was IMMACULATE YET AGAIN in tonight's start against the Padres, and he's allowed just TWO RUNS over his last 25.2 IP🤯

6.2 IP | 3 H | 0 ER | 5 K | 1 BB | 95 P | 61 S

He's recorded 29 STRIKEOUTS over his last 4 outings, and his ERA is down to 2.96 on the season😳… pic.twitter.com/0KHS0b2Hcg

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) May 6, 2025

Rodon’s evening concluded with two outs in the seventh after Oscar Gonzalez singled. Fernando Cruz entered and required merely two pitches to navigate through the remainder of the inning, maintaining both the lead and Rodon’s unblemished line.

Then everything unraveled.

Boone’s miscalculation proves costly

With Cruz having expended just two pitches, many expected his return for the eighth frame. Instead, Boone opted for Devin Williams, citing workload considerations.

“Just set up for Devin there,” Boone said. “Cruz had thrown two innings two days ago. Wanted to not overdo it there and keep everyone in play moving forward too.”

That calculation backfired dramatically.

Williams started promisingly by striking out his first batter, then issued a walk to former Yankee Tyler Wade before yielding a broken-bat single to another ex-Yankees prospect, Brandon Lockridge. After fanning Fernando Tatis Jr., Williams walked Luis Arraez on four consecutive pitches, loading the bases.

Boone summoned Luke Weaver. The situation only deteriorated further.

Eighth-inning avalanche dooms Yankees

With victory hanging precariously in the balance, Weaver surrendered a crushing two-run double to Manny Machado, immediately followed by a two-run single from Xander Bogaerts. Within moments, the Padres seized a 4-3 lead.

“The circumstance really needed some true quality pitches, and I felt like I just didn’t really get it to where it needed to go,” Weaver said. “It’s a lack of execution.”

Three runs were charged to Williams, elevating his season total to 13 earned runs across just 11 2/3 innings – equivalent to his entire surrender from the previous two seasons combined (80 1/3 innings) with Milwaukee.

“It was the landing spot, to be honest with you,” Williams said. “I couldn’t figure it out with the release point on my fastball. It was getting away from me. It’s one of those nights where you’re not only battling the hitter. I was battling the mound. But we’re all given the same set of circumstances, and I couldn’t pull through tonight.”

Williams, who had delivered three consecutive scoreless appearances before Monday’s meltdown, maintains his confidence remains intact.

“I feel good. I feel confident on the mound. I feel like I was in a good spot,” he said. “But we’re all given the same set of circumstances, and I couldn’t pull through tonight.”

When questioned about Williams’ struggles, Boone identified a recurring issue.

“I think the biggest thing is command and being ahead and not putting guys on,” Boone said. “Stuff’s there, stuff’s fine. And I do believe he’ll get on a roll and be lights out and dominant.”

Reality suggests otherwise. This marked New York’s fifth defeat this season when leading in the eighth inning or later – most in Major League Baseball – with Williams factoring in three of those collapses.

Grisham powers offense, Volpe makes return

Before the collapse, the Yankees appeared in control. Trent Grisham continued his breakthrough campaign with a towering two-run blast into the second deck off Padres starter Nick Pivetta. The homer represented Grisham’s ninth of the season – matching his entire 2024 production – and came against the organization that shipped him to New York in the Juan Soto blockbuster.

Their third run materialized in the sixth when Paul Goldschmidt singled, swiped second – his second theft this year – and advanced to third following catcher Elias Díaz’s errant throw. Anthony Volpe, returning from shoulder discomfort, delivered a sacrifice fly to bring Goldschmidt home.

Nevertheless, the Yankees mustered just five hits overall. And once Padres closer Robert Suarez entered for the ninth, they disappeared quietly: Volpe struck out, Austin Wells lifted a fly ball, and Jasson Domínguez whiffed to conclude the contest.

Questions mount for Boone’s decision-making

Boone’s decision to bypass Cruz despite the reliever requiring only two pitches in the seventh will undoubtedly linger.

Boone said that they trusted the group and that it just didn’t go their way.

But the manager’s growing catalog of bullpen miscalculations continues fueling discontent throughout the Bronx.

With this setback, the Yankees dropped to 19-16 overall. Notably, they remain perfect at 7-0 in games started by Max Fried while posting a disappointing 12-16 record in all others.

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