Yankees' Clay Holmes: Let down by defense in blown save
Rotowire
Holmes (1-4) blew a save and was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Orioles, allowing three unearned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.
In a roller-coaster ninth inning, New York scored three runs in the top of the frame to take a 5-3 lead. Holmes entered to try to close things out in the bottom of the inning but couldn't get the job done, giving up three runs, the final two of which came on a Cedric Mullins walk-off double. Though he didn't pitch particularly well, it would be unfair to pin the blame entirely on Holmes for the dramatic defeat, as a two-out error by Anthony Volpe allowed a run to score and kept the frame alive for Mullins' double, which had an xBA of .150, per Statcast -- Alex Verdugo took a terrible route to the ball and pinned the blame on himself for the result after the game, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. It was nonetheless a poor end to the first half of the campaign for Holmes, who has blown two of his past four save chances while giving up five runs (two earned) across four frames during that span.
Holmes earned the save in Friday's 4-1 win over the Orioles, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
After striking out Jordan Westburg to open the ninth, Holmes would then hit Heston Kjerstad in the helmet with one out, causing the benches to clear. However, Holmes would settle back in and record the final two outs, preserving the 4-1 victory to earn his 21st save. The 31-year-old closer has delivered back-to-back scoreless outings after surrendering eight earned runs in his previous 6.2 innings. He lowered his ERA to 2.82 on the year with a 1.23 WHIP and 40:8 K:BB across 38.1 innings.
Holmes struck out two over 1.1 perfect innings Wednesday to record his 20th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Rays.
It was Holmes' first save since June 9, as he'd blown his last two chances while posting a worrying 10.80 ERA over his past seven appearances. Despite the rough stretch, he still sports a 2.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 39:8 K:BB through 37.1 innings on the season and has already banked his third straight 20-save campaign.
Holmes blew his fifth save chance of the season in Friday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth inning without striking out a batter.
With two outs in the ninth and the Yankees holding a 3-1 lead, Holmes gave up a single to Dominic Smith before leaving a sinker over the middle of the plate that Masataka Yoshida blasted to right field for a game-tying homer. Holmes has been tagged for runs in five of seven appearances since his last save June 9, stumbling to a 10.80 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 6.2 innings over that stretch despite an 8:0 K:BB. His spot as the Yankees' closer doesn't seem to be in jeopardy yet, but the 31-year-old will likely need to right the ship before the trade deadline if he doesn't want New York shopping for his replacement.
Holmes (1-2) allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Royals.
Holmes was one out away from his 20th save of the season before serving up a two-run double to Maikel Garcia. The 31-year-old closer had gone nine straight appearances without allowing a run and still carries an impressive 1.80 ERA for the season. As the ninth-inning man for the club with the most wins in MLB, he remains one of the safest options at the position, with his 19 saves being tied for third most this season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Logs save No. 19
Rotowire
Holmes picked up the save Sunday against the Dodgers. He pitched a scoreless ninth but allowed two hits and struck out a batter.
Holmes quickly got the first two outs of the inning but then ran into some trouble after allowing back-to-back base hits to bring Mookie Betts up to the plate. Holmes was able to get Betts to whiff on a slider to end the game and pick up his 19th save. Holmes is now tied with Emmanuel Clase for second in baseball in saves. He's been excellent this season, posting a 1.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB in 29.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Records save Thursday
Rotowire
Holmes earned a save against the Twins on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless inning.
Holmes gave up a one-out single after entering the game in the ninth frame, but that's all Minnesota managed against him. The talented closer has held opponents without an earned run in 27 of his 28 appearances this season, resulting in an excellent 1.32 ERA. Holmes ranks third in the majors with 18 saves (in 21 chances) on the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Picks up 17th save
Rotowire
Holmes threw a scoreless inning to earn a save against the Giants on Sunday.
Holmes quickly finished off the 7-5 win Sunday, needing just 12 pitches to retire San Francisco's 2-3-4 hitters in order. He began the year without allowing an earned run through 20 innings before coughing up four in a brutal outing against Seattle on May 20. Since then, he's turned in 5.2 scoreless frames to push his ERA back down to 1.37. Holmes owns a 27:8 K:BB and has converted 17 of 20 save chances this season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Hangs on for 16th save
Rotowire
Holmes picked up the save over the Angels on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning while allowing one hit and one walk.
Holmes entered the contest with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered a single and a walk in the first two at-bats before getting Willie Calhoun to ground into a double play. The reliever was then able to retire Logan O'Hoppe on just two pitches to record his 16th save of the season, which ties him with Robert Suarez for third in the major leagues. Holmes has now allowed multiple baserunners in four of his last five appearances and hasn't recorded a strikeout in either of his last two outings.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Takes blown save
Rotowire
Holmes allowed two hits in one-third of an inning, taking a blown save in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Holmes inherited two runners from Luke Weaver and allowed both to score on a Taylor Ward double that flipped the Yankees' one-run lead to a one-run deficit. While he wasn't charged with either run, Holmes ended up taking his third blown save of the season, two of which have come in his last four outings. Despite the recent troubles, he's still at a 1.54 ERA and 26:6 K:BB this year, though his 1.24 WHIP is less encouraging. Holmes is still the Yankees' top closing option with 15 saves on the season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Nails down 15th save
Rotowire
Holmes picked up the save over the Padres on Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.
Holmes made it look easy Saturday, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth on a total of just seven pitches to record his 15th save of the season. The right-handed reliever has now converted his last two save opportunities after surrendering four runs to the Mariners on May 20, striking out at least one batter in each of those appearances. Holmes sits just one save behind Emmanuel Clase (16) for the American League lead after Saturday's outing.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Rebounds for 14th save
Rotowire
Holmes earned the save in Thursday's 5-0 win over Seattle, allowing two hits while striking out two in 1.1 innings.
He came on in relief in the eighth after Nick Burdi loaded the bases. Holmes induced a grounder off the bat of Luke Raley for the final out before working around a pair of singles in the ninth to earn his 14th save. It's a nice bounce-back effort from Holmes, after he allowed four runs in a blown save against Seattle on Monday, the first four runs he's allowed this season. Overall, the 31-year-old right-hander sports a 1.64 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB across 22 innings this year.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Loses perfect ERA
Rotowire
Holmes (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while taking a loss against the Mariners on Monday. He blew a save chance and recorded only two outs.
Holmes entered Monday with zero earned runs allowed through 20 innings this season. Seattle chipped away at him with singles and walks to plate four runs and take the lead in the ninth inning. Holmes' ERA jumped to 1.74 as he was handed his first loss of the year. He's converted 13 of his 15 save chances while registering a 23:6 K:BB through 20.2 innings.
