PHILADELPHIA — The Yankees added a pair of relievers Tuesday, but not a closer — which means Clay Holmes will continue in that role.
“I’m comfortable with Clay Holmes [and] comfortable with what we have,” GM Brian Cashman said before Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Phillies. “I’m more comfortable with what we added to what we had. I didn’t enter the marketplace looking for closers. I entered the marketplace looking for the best available talent.”
That resulted in the acquisitions of right-handers Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs and Enyel De Los Santos from Pittsburgh.
Holmes has had mostly poor results since mid-June, having blown five of seven save opportunities and allowing 14 runs — 10 earned — 19 hits and four walks in his past 14 appearances.
He blew a save in Tuesday’s win and afterwards, Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone spoke out in support of Holmes.
Then Holmes picked up the save in Wednesday’s win with a scoreless ninth — but not without a scare
He gave up a hard-hit single to center by Kyle Schwarber and then a fly ball to the track in left to Austin Hays before getting Bryce Harper to ground into a game-ending double play.
“It got a little nervous with Hays,’’ Boone said. “He was able to keep him in [the park].”
“It means a lot for my teammates to have my back there,’’ Holmes said of Judge’s comments. “No doubt, I wish it was a situation I could control more and put up better results to help the team. I can’t control everything. I’m a pitcher who relies on ground balls and it may not go your way.”
Hitters have had considerably more success against Holmes’ sinker this season, although they aren’t hitting it any harder than in years past.
And Cashman echoed Boone in saying Holmes hasn’t been as bad as his numbers might indicate.
“It’s been a lot more bad luck,’’ Cashman said. “I think Clay is an exceptional high-end reliever, one of the better in the game. He’s pitched better than his recent results have shown.”
In picking up Leiter and De Los Santos, Cashman said he wanted to give Boone “as many choices to navigate late-game action [as possible]. I’m not viewing Clay as a problem.”
Boone and Cashman also said they were comfortable with just one left-hander, Tim Hill, in the bullpen.
Cashman said he was confident Leiter and Tommy Kahnle, as well as Luke Weaver, will be able to get lefties out after failed experiments Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson were jettisoned.