Alex Verdugo wasn’t the only embattled Yankee to find redemption in Saturday night’s win in Game 1 of the ALDS.
Clay Holmes, who was demoted from the closer role about a month earlier, recorded five huge outs in the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.
The right-handed Holmes entered with one out in the sixth inning, immediately after Garrett Hampson’s two-run single off of Tim Hill gave the Royals a 5-4 lead.
Holmes retired five of the six batters he faced, including getting presumed AL MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. to ground out with two on and two outs to end the top of the sixth.
After the Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, Holmes hurled a 1-2-3 seventh and ended up picking up the win after Verdugo’s go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the frame proved to be the difference.
“Felt like I was pretty much in control,” Holmes said. “I mean, they were swinging, and I was looking for some contact and able to get some contact, get some early outs. I think it’s huge.”
Holmes’ 1.2 scoreless innings proved pivotal on a night the Royals tagged Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for four runs (three earned) over five-plus frames.
The sinker-balling Holmes better resembled the dominant reliever who delivered a 0.00 ERA through his first 20 appearances this season than the one who ended up blowing 13 save opportunities to tie a Yankees record.
“I thought it was excellent,” manager Aaron Boone said of Holmes’ heroics.
“Through their middle of the order, that was obviously a big point in the game when it’s kind of that back and forth. So yeah, really excited for him to get in there and do what we know he’s capable of.”
Tommy Kahnle got two outs in the eighth before Luke Weaver, who has effectively replaced Holmes’ in the closer role, pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to nail down the save and give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Weaver, who made his postseason debut Saturday, also converted each of his four save opportunities in September.
“It’s not easy to get those last three outs, so when you come in and you kind of have to cool down and go back out, I mean, it’s impressive,” Holmes said of Weaver. “What he’s been doing has been a huge boost for our team.”
The steadiness of Holmes, who earned his second All-Star selection this season, helped set the stage for Verdugo, who lost playing time in September after the Yankees called up top prospect Jasson Domínguez.
Verdugo started the ALDS opener in left field following widespread speculation over whether Boone would roll with him or the rookie Domínguez.
The veteran Verdugo is the superior defender, but on Saturday, his bat made the biggest impact.
“We needed them tonight,” Cole said of Holmes and Verdugo.
“It’s a team effort day in and day out, and especially in the postseason, you’re going to see contributions from people you don’t normally expect, and you’re going to see just kind of magical baseball. When guys like that have been going through it a little bit and come through in a big spot, it makes it that much sweeter.”
