The New York Yankees suffered a brutal 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, as closer Clay Holmes allowed four earned runs in a disastrous ninth inning.
Holmes, who leads MLB with 11 blown saves this season, gave up a walk-off grand slam to Wyatt Langford, in what has become a worrying trend for the Bombers.
The defeat dropped the Yankees to 80-59. While still a very strong record, they were eclipsed by the rival Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East.
The majority of Yankees fans are frightened by the continued struggles of Holmes and have no faith whenever he takes the mound.
However, the always-positive Jazz Chisholm urged fans to stay positive and expressed confidence in Holmes’ ability to bounce back.
“He’s great,” Chisholm said of Holmes. “Before I got here, I was facing Clay and thought he was one of the dirtiest pitchers in the league.
“He has nice stuff. Sometimes you go through those rough stretches – tough innings, tough games, we all go through them.”
Chisholm continued to express his faith in Holmes, saying, “Everybody has their kind of slump. I just like that he’s one of those guys who can fight back, and he’s been doing it for years. I think he’s going to be alright.”
Chisholm, who has quickly become a key contributor for the Yankees, went 2-for-4 against the Rangers, lifting his batting average to an impressive .340 since joining the team.
However, his efforts were overshadowed by Holmes’ struggles on the mound.
Holmes’ 11th blown save, the most in the majors, has raised concerns about the Yankees’ bullpen as they fight for a playoff spot.
The Yankees are currently half a game behind the Orioles in the AL East, and it’s clear that the team’s frequent late-game collapses have hindered their progress.
On the bright side, Holmes has converted 29 saves this season, a career-high, and earned his second consecutive All-Star selection, with a solid 60/19 K/BB ratio over 301 major league appearances.
Nevertheless, his 3.27 ERA, particularly troubling in high-pressure ninth innings, suggests that Holmes will need to find his form quickly to meet Chisholm’s expectations.
With the postseason looming, manager Aaron Boone may face a tough decision: continue relying on Holmes as the closer or explore a closer-by-committee approach.
Though five other Yankees have recorded saves in 2024, none have more than two, highlighting the team’s reliance on Holmes in crucial situations.
What are your thoughts on Holmes’ continued struggles?
Can the Yankees trust him come October???