Clay Holmes will not be the Yankees’ automatic closer for now after he gave up a game-ending grand slam to the Texas Rangers, marking his major league-high 11th blown save of the season.
Manager Aaron Boone mentioned on Wednesday that the team will explore different options for the closer role, including Holmes, while still supporting the two-time All-Star following his rough performance.
Rookie Wyatt Langford’s grand slam came after a single by Carson Kelly and walks to Josh Smith and Marcus Semien, leading the Rangers to a 7-4 win on Tuesday night.
“In the short term, we’ll kind of just get a little creative with it,” Boone said before the series finale against the Rangers. “I feel like he’s throwing the ball really well in a lot of ways. Last night it was certainly a little off and they got to him. But the reality is he’s really not that far off from being the dominant guy we know he can be.”
Langford managed to hit a hanging 85.8 mph slider 407 feet down the left-field line after fouling off a full-count slider.
Holmes’ blown saves, which have occurred in 40 opportunities, are the highest for the Yankees since Dave Righetti had 13 in 1987, matching the team record set by Goose Gossage in 1983.
Boone had kept Holmes as the closer even after his previous blown save on August 18 against Detroit in Major League Baseball’s Little League Classic. Holmes had five scoreless outings with three saves before the loss to the Rangers.
“At this point in the season, where the race is and playoffs, it’s about winning,” Holmes said. “I think everybody’s on that same page. Whatever it takes for us to go out and win. Roles and definitions at this point, they are what they are.”
The Yankees’ decision to use a closer-by-committee approach came as they are competing closely with Baltimore for the best record in the American League and the lead in the AL East. The Orioles were ahead by half a game at the start of the day.
Right-hander Jake Cousins has one save and a 2.73 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 30 innings. Luke Weaver, another right-hander, is second to Holmes in appearances with 54 and has finished seven games.
Left-hander Tim Hill has a 3-0 record and a 2.34 ERA in 27 relief appearances, though he has only 13 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. Tommy Kahnle, a 35-year-old right-hander, has a career-best 2.00 ERA in 42 appearances.
“Trust a lot of guys,” Boone said. “Just how it matches up is kind of how we’ll go. And that’s how we’ll go into every night. I feel like there’s a lot of guys down there throwing the ball well and capable.”
Rookie Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, both starters coming off the IL, could be developed as closing options.
“Never say never,” Boone said. “The reality is probably someone’s going to go to the ’pen from the starting rotation at some point, and I wouldn’t rule out necessarily anyone.” Holmes spent some time in Boone’s office before the game.
