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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devin Williams can't escape misery again as Yankees lose crusher in extras to Astros
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free Aaron Boone already had used Yerry De los Santos, Camilo Doval and Luke Weaver to cover four scoreless innings. Weaver, his ninth-inning reliever, had thrown 19 pitches while pitching on a fourth day out of seven, and the manager did not want to risk the health of an invaluable arm by asking for another frame. He could not turn to David Bednar, who expended 42 pitches Wednesday. He did not want to turn to Mark Leiter Jr., who was recently activated from the injured list and pitched Tuesday and Wednesday. A righty pocket of hitters was due up, thus eliminating Tim Hill from the discussion. There was one reliever who might not have made sense but made the most sense to Boone — a pitcher who shortly afterward would say, 'I stink right now.' Devin Williams took over in a quality, tense and tie game in which the Yankees had erased a two-run deficit and proceeded to throw it away once again. The polarizing, struggling and perhaps shell-shocked righty entered in the 10th inning to a reception that might generously be referred to as groans and exited to boos that rivaled the reaction to Jose Altuve, imploding in what became a 5-3 loss Friday to the Astros in front of a sellout crowd of 46,027 angry fans in The Bronx. CHECK OUT THE AND Between a miserable road trip and a poor start to this home stand, the Yankees (61-55) have dropped six of seven, each seemingly more devastating than the last. 'I'm not making pitches. It's pretty simple,' said Williams, who immediately showed either a lack of poise or a lack of command, his first pitch bounced to the backstop to move the automatic runner to third. Carlos Correa then took advantage of a drawn-in infield and singled up the middle for the go-ahead run. The Yankees caught a break when Yainer Diaz's drive off the right field wall led to an out — right fielder Amed Rosario crashed against the wall and remained down for several moments, and Christian Walker, who began the play at first base, retreated believing the ball to be caught — but that break was forgotten a batter later. With two outs in the frame, (briefly) former Yankee Taylor Trammell drilled a home run into the right field seats to essentially clinch a game that left Williams reeling, wildly unpopular in his home ballpark and owning a 5.73 ERA. 'The [changeup] to Trammell was terrible,' said Williams, who blew games Monday and Tuesday in Texas and has allowed at least a run in five consecutive appearances. Boone said he has wanted to find 'softer landing spots' for Williams, but consistent lack of distance from his rotation — Cam Schlittler lasted five, two-run innings Friday — required him to try to piece together five innings from his bullpen, and he ran out of pitchers. The pitcher he turned to has allowed 28 earned runs in 44 innings this season. As arguably the best closer in baseball the past three seasons, Williams allowed a total of 26 earned runs. His command — the changeup to Trammell was in the middle of the plate — is an issue. As likely is his confidence. 'I'm not saying [my confidence is] as high as it's ever been,' he said. The Yankees scored once against Josh Hader in the bottom of the inning on an Anthony Volpe single, but the potential tying run in Paul Goldschmidt (a fly out) and the potential winning run in Trent Grisham (a line out) could not come through. Fans will target Williams, who came undone in a season in which he has come undone far too many times. But the Yankees would not have needed a 10th inning or Williams if their offense had a pulse for most of the contest. Ben Rice doubled in the first inning for the Yankees, who then watched AL Cy Young candidate Hunter Brown sit down the next 14 hitters. A trace of life arrived in the sixth, when the Yankees used three hits — including RBI singles from Rice and Aaron Judge — to tie the game. The Yankees consistently find themselves in close or tie games, nine of their past 12 decided by two runs or fewer. Which means too many are being decided by Williams. 'I'm close,' Williams said. 'It's come down to essentially one mistake and making me pay for it.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yankees survive late scare for much-needed win thanks to Trent Grisham's clutch homer
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free The 2000 World Series club that the Yankees celebrated Saturday lost 15 of its final 18 regular-season games. It limped into the postseason, ditched its crutches and sprinted to a title. In the ballpark was living proof that slides that threaten to end seasons don't always end seasons. 'We're certainly hoping for that kind of a run,' manager Aaron Boone said. 'It's been a tough couple months for us.' On an Old-Timers' Day that featured a brief alumni game and plenty of star power in The Bronx, the Yankees experienced what has become rare: a nice afternoon during which potential heartbreak morphed into euphoria. After the pregame festivities, the Yankees grabbed a lead, predictably blew it in sloppy fashion and then watched Trent Grisham blast the tiebreaking home run in a 5-4 victory over the Astros in front of the 2000 Yankees and 45,738 fans. 'We're close to getting really, really hot,' Grisham said after the Yankees (62-55) won for just a second time in eight games. 'So hopefully [this can] get something started.' After mostly Camilo Doval, partly unfortunate defense and partly David Bednar fumbled a two-run edge in the top of the eighth, Grisham provided the needed swing in the bottom of the inning. The outfielder demolished a no-doubter against fellow lefty Bryan King and did not watch the ball land. Grisham remained in the batter's box, stared into his dugout and began his trot as the ball sailed into the second deck. The moment was another testament to the talent and the personality that Grisham — the most laid-back member of the team who plays with far more ease than urgency — brings to the club. 'He is 'The Big Sleep,' ' Boone said with a smile in revealing a nickname that a few in the clubhouse are trying to ascribe to Grisham. 'He's that, but he's really confident, too, and really talented.' Grisham's career-best 21st home run was another one that mattered. Sixteen of his dingers have either tied the game or given his team the lead. It is possible that a person this relaxed simply does not feel as much pressure in big moments. 'I believe I'm ready for it,' Grisham said of his success in the clutch. 'I believe I'm built for it.' 'No situation is too big for him,' Giancarlo Stanton added. Bednar, either. Again asked again to record five outs, the deadline addition shook off a shaky beginning to his eighth inning and threw a scoreless ninth to seal a game that had teetered just a few minutes earlier. CHECK OUT THE AND In that eighth, the seemingly daily Yankees collapse began. With Cam Smith on first, Doval fielded a one-out comebacker from Jesús Sánchez that should have ended the frame. But Doval's errant throw to second pulled Anthony Volpe off the base, recording zero outs instead of two. With the door swung open, the Astros took advantage. Jose Altuve reached out his bat and sent a single into left that Jasson Domínguez chased down and came up throwing. The strong throw probably did not have a chance to nab Smith, but Ryan McMahon did not cut the ball off — and the ball then bounced past catcher Ben Rice, which ensured the run scored and allowed Sánchez to advance to third and Altuve to second. Boone believed the play was more misfortune than folly, saying the ball skipped behind Smith, which shielded Rice from a view of the ball. After Doval walked Carlos Correa to load the bases in a one-run game, Boone went to Bednar for a second attempted five-out save in four days. Bednar got ahead of Christian Walker 0-2 before throwing four straight balls to tie the game. The new closer bore down from there, though, striking out Yainer Diaz and Taylor Trammell to escape. A Yankees lineup that housed both DH Aaron Judge and right fielder Stanton hit Framber Valdez hard, managing four runs on eight hits and four walks in 5 ¹/₃ innings from the star lefty. Luis Gil (two runs in 5 ¹/₃ innings) served up a leadoff home run to Jeremy Peña on his fourth pitch of the game but settled in from there. Gil gave his offense a chance that 'The Big Sleep' eventually exploited.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blade Tidwell sharper in second Mets' spot start despite little notice: ‘Just hopped in the car'
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free PHILADELPHIA — After a rainout in Syracuse, Blade Tidwell was finished for the day. Advertisement He was about to begin playing some 'Fortnite' on Thursday night when his plans changed. The pitching-desperate Mets burned Justin Hagenman's arm in relief in their finale in Atlanta. So at about 10 p.m., Tidwell was told he was starting Friday. To make roster space for Tidwell, the Mets optioned Hagenman 'Just hopped in the car,' Tidwell said, he and his girlfriend making the 4 ½-hour trip south and preparing in a hurry for one of the better offenses in baseball. Tidwell was better, if not excellent, in an emergency spot start during a 10-2, series-opening loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Advertisement After a May 4 debut in St. Louis went wayward — six runs in 3 ²/₃ innings — the 24-year-old prospect held his own over three scoreless innings. Blade Tidwell throws a pitch during the first inning of the Mets' 10-2 blowout loss to the Phillies on June 20, 2025. AP He ran into trouble in a fourth inning he would not escape, perhaps a victim of circumstance. For the first time all season, he was starting consecutive games on four days' rest. He typically gets at least five days' rest with Syracuse. In his outing Sunday, he had thrown just 66 pitches. For that reason, manager Carlos Mendoza did not want to give him much of a leash. Blade Tidwell throws a pitch during the Mets' loss to the Phillies. Getty Images In the fourth inning, singles by Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto and a walk to Bryson Stott loaded the bases. Advertisement Tidwell did well to induce a ground ball from Otto Kemp, but the Brett Baty-Jeff McNeil-Pete Alonso turn was a half-step slow, allowing the game's first run to score. The righty was pulled at 74 pitches, having allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four, and Jose Castillo entered and allowed one more run to score. 'I thought the fastball had life. I thought the cutter, shorter slider, to go with the sweeper, was a lot better, as well,' Mendoza said. Tidwell added: 'It went better than the last, but there's still work to be done.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phil Mickelson Makes Big Career Announcement on Wednesday
Phil Mickelson Makes Big Career Announcement on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club is set for June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club, a revered venue just northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Advertisement This year's field will include 156 players, 85 of whom earned exemptions through past performances, world rankings and the newly created LIV Golf exemption, while the remainder will come through local and final qualifying events held across North America and beyond. As the golf world prepares for another iconic event on the PGA Tour, all eyes have turned to one of its most storied figures: Phil Mickelson. On Wednesday, Gene Wang of Post Sports posted on X a quote from Mickelson during the LIV Golf pre-tournament presser that there is a "High likelihood" next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont will be his last, say he's unsure if he will try to qualify down the road. Over a professional career that began in 1992, Mickelson has amassed 57 total wins worldwide, including 45 PGA Tour victories (tied for eighth all-time) and six major championships. Advertisement His major resume includes three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two PGA Championship wins (2005, 2021) and a lone Open Championship victory (2013). Notably, his 2021 PGA Championship win at Kiawah Island made him the oldest major champion in history at 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days. Golfer Phil Mickelson.© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images His U.S. Open record, however, remains defined by heartbreak: runner-up finishes in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013, the most runner-up finishes (six) in U.S. Open history. Mickelson, nicknamed "Lefty," turns 55 on June 16. Related: Scottie Scheffler's Actions in New Video Spark Strong Reaction From PGA Tour Related: Xander Schauffele's Eagle at Memorial Draws Response From PGA Tour This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
