BOSTON — The Yankees officially have a closer problem. The question is what they're going to do about it before Tuesday’s 6 p.m.
trade deadline. Clay Holmes, an All-Star who admitted to being blindsided by his own selection, is pitching like a man who should be in jeopardy of losing his job. And it’s not as if the Yankees have the luxury of letting him iron out his issues in high-leverage situations; they’re struggling to stay afloat in the AL East race.
Holmes, a free agent after this season, has been front-and-center in two of the Yankees’ most brutal losses this season, separated by a span of eight games, and he’s also suffered three blown saves in his last three chances. There was the meltdown at Camden Yards on the final day of the first half, when Ben Rice’s go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth immediately was squandered when Holmes again was plagued by issues with the sinker, his money pitch. Despite creating traffic on the basepaths with two walks and a single, Holmes deserved somewhat of a pass for the Yankees' 6-5 loss.
An error by Anthony Volpe on what should have been a game-ending grounder and a misplay by leftfielder Alex Verdugo, who misjudged a fly ball that wound up soaring over his head, cost Holmes two extra outs and ultimately resulted in the blown save. Friday’s 9-7 loss to the Red Sox, however, was squarely on Holmes’ shoulders. Hustled in to protect a fading 7-6 lead in the eighth inning, with two on and one out, Holmes’ .