Like most contending teams, the Yankees will continue looking to bolster their bullpen before Thursday’s trade deadline.
But their beleaguered reliever corps provided a massive boost in Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Phillies, with four pitchers combining to record 11 outs with that one-run lead after Carlos Rodón was removed in the sixth.
“Sometimes, all you need to do is have things go your way one time and be able to get on a little bit of a roll,” said closer Devin Williams, who worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save. “It was nice to see everyone putting up zeroes today.”
Williams, a two-time All-Star with Milwaukee who is in his first season with the Yanks, said he’s not thinking about any potential additional moves to shore up the bullpen after the Yanks acquired infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario in recent days.
“I just show up and do my job, and I’ll let [GM Brian] Cashman take care of that,” Williams added.
Aaron Boone believes Williams’ stuff looks “as good as it’s been all year,” and the numbers bear that out.
The 30-year-old righty has not allowed a run in 24 of his past 29 appearances (2.28 ERA) following a slow start to his pinstriped career in which he briefly ceded the closer role to Luke Weaver.
“I’m just pitching with confidence and conviction and, for the most part, executing what I want to do,” Williams said.
Weaver also contributed to the win by tossing a spotless seventh inning in relief of Jonathan Loáisiga, who replaced Rodón with one down in the sixth.
Weaver surrendered a three-run homer to J.T. Realmuto and another run during Friday’s 12-5 loss.
“We’ve been putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to try and come through with big outs,” Weaver said. “Sometimes they come in bunches in a good way, and sometimes it goes bad.
“You always know there’s that next day of getting into a big moment and trying to flush the bad ones, and I think that’s the biggest mindset we try to take in. Today, it was a good boost in our direction.”
And lefty Tim Hill worked a perfect eighth against the top of the Phillies lineup, retiring Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
It was an uplifting showing for the Yanks, who rank 22nd across MLB with a bullpen ERA of 4.28.
“I mean, that’s what you want it to look like, right there,” Boone said. “So, really good against a good lineup to have four guys go out and kind of really slam it down.”
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