Holmes’ Latest Blown Save Costs Yankees AL East Lead, Sparks Closer Debate

ARLINGTON, Texas — Clay Holmes struggled significantly on the mound during a high-stakes game for the New York Yankees, raising concerns about his role as the team’s closer. On Tuesday night, Holmes allowed a single and issued two walks, culminating in a devastating game-ending grand slam hit by Texas rookie Wyatt Langford. This turn of events resulted in a 7-4 loss, marking the Yankees’ first slip from first place in the AL East in three weeks.

Holmes has faced challenges all season, as he has blown a league-high 11 saves in 40 opportunities. Following the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was uncharacteristically noncommittal when asked about the possibility of a change in the closing role. “I’m not going to answer that right now when we’re raw and emotional,” Boone stated. “We’ll talk through it and do what we think is the best thing.”

In the critical moment of the game, after a single from Carson Kelly, Holmes walked Josh Smith on a full-count slider. He then issued a five-pitch walk to Marcus Semien. With Langford at bat, Holmes managed to get an initial strike, but after fouling off another full-count slider, Langford connected, driving a hanging 85.8 mph slider 407 feet down the left-field line for the grand slam. This marked the highest number of blown saves for the Yankees since Dave Righetti’s 13 in 1987.

“There’s been times I feel like I’ve thrown well, I’ve gotten beat,” Holmes reflected. “Honestly, tonight was one of those times where I didn’t throw very well and was not at my best. I didn’t deserve to come out on top there.”

His last blown save prior to this was on August 18 against Detroit, where Boone spoke highly of Holmes’ performance, stating that he was throwing well. Despite that praise, Holmes has seemingly struggled to close out batters effectively with two strikes, leaving both the player and the manager concerned as the season nears its conclusion.

This latest defeat was particularly critical for the Yankees, who are battling with the Baltimore Orioles for supremacy in the division and fighting for the American League’s top record. Boone noted that this loss fell squarely on Holmes’ performance. “Tonight they got him. A lot of the times where we’ve lost, it’s been soft contact,” Boone said. “That wasn’t the case tonight; he walked two guys, and Langford put a real charge into one.”

There are growing questions about Holmes’ mental resilience as the team navigates a tense phase of the season. Boone expressed his belief in Holmes’ ability to handle adversity, stating, “We got to make sure he’s good. I think he handles this very well, and he’s tough-minded for it. But obviously, some tough ones here of late.”

Reflecting on his performance, Holmes acknowledged the need for self-assessment and growth. “It’s definitely not my first tough one,” he remarked. “You’ve got to flush it, have a short memory, and get back to what we do well.” The Yankees rely on Holmes to regain his form as they strive for postseason contention amidst fierce competition.