Yankees' Devin Williams Has Blunt Explanation for Latest Ninth-Inning Implosion
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An awful stretch for the New York Yankees met another low point on Monday night.
Despite an imperfect early-game performance, the Yankees did enough to secure a 5-4 lead and hand the ball to closer Devin Williams in the bottom of the ninth inning. But Williams promptly allowed a game-tying home run to Texas Rangers pinch-hitter Joc Pederson, who entered with a .126 batting average.
For Williams, it was the third blown save in 20 tries, but it upped his ERA on the season to 5.10. New York failed to score in the top of the 10th inning, then trade acquisition Jake Bird got two outs before allowing a back-breaking, walk-off three-run home run to Rangers third baseman Josh Jung.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 4: Joc Pederson #4 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on August 4,...
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 4: Joc Pederson #4 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on August 4, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by)The Yankees have lost four straight and now only hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Rangers for the final spot in the American League playoffs.
"Things haven't been going well for a while," Williams said, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. "I think everyone's well aware of that."
Williams hung an 84 mph change-up right down Broadway to Pederson, who has been one of the most disappointing acquisitions by any team this year in his own right, to breathe life back into the Rangers.
"I'm trying to throw it down and away there, and missed middle -- and obviously, he did what he did," Williams said, per Dave Sessions of MLB.com. "This game and the last one, it was really one pitch that hurt me. But that's the difference between winning and losing sometimes, and I can't let that happen."
The Yankees have continued to find soul-sucking ways to lose games, and there's not one player that starts and ends with. But Williams has to be considered one of the biggest disappointments of the season, as he arrived in town expecting to be the bullpen's savior.
After two National League Reliever of the Year Awards and a 1.83 ERA in six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, it's stunning to see Williams struggle this much. And he'd better get a handle on those struggles quickly, because he could lose his closer job any given day now.
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