The eighth inning was taking part in out like a recurring Yankees nightmare, full with a throwing error and Camilo Doval strolling a pair of hitters.
When David Bednar got here in with the bases loaded and proceeded to stroll in a run, throwing 4 straight balls to Christian Walker after going up 0-and-2 within the depend, tying the sport at 4-4, each one of many 45,738 on the Stadium might see the place this one was going.
And each one of many 45,738 devoted would have been lifeless improper about that.
Bednar not solely struck out the subsequent two Astros to work his manner out of the jam however stayed on to get the win after Trent Grisham’s homer gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead that was a profitable last rating in opposition to Houston on Saturday in The Bronx.
“I hoped Doval for one [inning] and Bednar for one,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated. “Hopefully, one among these instances, I can get Bednar one inning solely, however simply one other massive effort by him.”
It was a 3rd straight strong outing from Bednar and a second consecutive five-out look after his 42-pitch effort on Wednesday in Texas.
Although the confrontation with Walker acquired messy, Bednar rapidly righted the ship, leaving the bases loaded with the go-ahead run on third within the eighth and dealing a simple 1-2-3 ninth.
With Devin Williams struggling badly, it seems Bednar is perhaps turning himself into Boone’s most reliable bullpen possibility late in video games.
“I believe nonetheless attempting to really feel out when my identify’s referred to as, so I’m prepared each time,” Bednar stated. “At any time when the telephone rings, I’m able to roll.”
The bullpen has been a constant sore spot for the Yankees, with Doval additionally struggling since coming over on the commerce deadline whereas fellow acquisition Jake Chook was optioned to Triple-A after simply two appearances.
Bednar blew a save in his first look as a Yankee after coming over as a deadline acquisition from the Pirates, however has been dependable since.
No one envisioned the 30-year-old nearly instantly turning into one of many membership’s most vital back-end relievers, however that has turn into the case with Bednar having spent all of 10 days in pinstripes.
“It’s been nice,” Boone stated. “I can’t throw him in any deeper of a hearth. … Nice job by him and I’m not gonna run him once more there a lot previous 30 pitches. So to be as environment friendly as he was, too, within the ninth was massive.”
