In a game against the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes had a rough outing, leading to a 7-4 loss with a game-ending grand slam by rookie Wyatt Langford. This defeat also caused the Yankees to fall out of first place in the AL East for the first time in three weeks. Holmes, who has blown 11 saves out of 40 chances this season, may be at risk of losing his closing role following this disappointing performance.
Manager Aaron Boone refrained from confirming Holmes as the team’s closer moving forward, indicating that a change could be considered. Holmes struggled with his control during the game, allowing a single and two walks before Langford delivered the deciding grand slam. The blown saves by Holmes are now the most for a Yankees pitcher since Dave Righetti in 1987.
Holmes acknowledged his poor performance, stating that he did not deserve to come out on top in that situation. While he had previously been praised for his pitching, especially after a save in August, his recent struggles with closing out batters have become apparent. This loss adds pressure to the Yankees as they compete for the division lead and the best record in the American League against teams like Baltimore.
After the game, Boone highlighted the need to assess Holmes’ readiness and performance, acknowledging that Holmes has been facing challenges in recent outings. The pitcher himself expressed the need to analyze his mistakes, maintain a positive mindset, and focus on returning to his strengths on the field. This defeat serves as a reminder of the team’s need to regroup and bounce back from setbacks.
