After watching Devin Williams blow back-to-back games, the Yankees had a different approach at the end of the game on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers.
With one out in the eighth inning and a one-run lead, Aaron Boone went to David Bednar. Bednar finished the inning and recorded two strikeouts to start the ninth inning.
However, he walked Corey Seager and allowed a single to Marcus Semien. With his pitch count at a season high of 35 pitches, Boone walked out to the mound. Boone told Bednar he was going to pull him, but Bednar told him he was staying in the game.
Bednar stayed in the game and struck out Adolis García on seven pitches. It was his 18th save, and perhaps his gutsiest one of the year. Veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt reacted to the outing after the game.
“That was awesome,” Goldschmidt said, per The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.
The Yankees still have plenty of work to do to climb back to first place in the American League East. However, they may have found a reliable closer in Bednar.
Williams is a two-time Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner, but he has not been good for the Yankees. He has a 5.44 ERA, making this the worst year of his career.
The Yankees acquired Bednar and Camilo Doval at the trade deadline. After Bednar’s recent outing, he could be considered the Yankees’ closer moving forward, and there is an argument that Doval should be used in leverage over Williams.
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