Clay Holmes, Yankees
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes celebrates after the second baseball game of the team’s doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in New York. The Yankees won 2-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The beginning of the 2023 MLB season proved to be a tough test for Yankees reliever Clay Holmes. He faced some difficulties with his sinkers and struggled with command and consistency. However, instead of allowing the early struggles to define his season, Holmes used them as fuel to improve and make the necessary adjustments.

For the past several weeks, Clay Holmes has dominated on the mound. His ERA dropped to a record low as the Yankees bullpen continues to thrive. Recently, against the New York Mets, Holmes delivered yet another stellar performance which helped the team clinch the series opener. After the game, the reliever was up for a chat and disclosed the reason behind his turnaround.

   

Clay Holmes Hasn’t Allowed A Run In The Last 18 Games

Clay Holmes
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes (35) throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, June 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)AP

Clay Holmes, the talented right-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, has turned his season around after a challenging start, showcasing his resilience and determination on the mound. Initially into the season, Holmes exploded by allowing seven runs in the first 10 innings pitched. His sinkers were all around the place, which earned him immense scrutiny. Despite all, with a strong work ethic and unwavering determination, Holmes focused on refining his mechanics and sharpening his pitches. The hard work bore fruit as the reliever found his old rhythm back.

As per stats, Clay Holmes has not allowed a run in the last 18 of the 19 game appearances. Not only that, his ERA is down to 0.47 with 24 strikeouts over 19 innings. Moreover, his ERA also stands second-lowest in the major league. After the Mets game, Holmes talked to the reporters on the sidelines and said that the early struggles did not shake his confidence. He knew the troubling phase wouldn’t last, and his time would come eventually. He was working hard on the sinkers, and the delivery was good, just not up to the mark. However, with time even that got better as he yielded results. The reliever is happy to be able to contribute and wants to put his best foot forward.

Yankees In-Form Bullpen Perishes Vs. Mets On Wednesday

Yankees
Jimmy Cordero will be the opener for the Yankees on May 15, 2023. Paul J. Bereswill

The New York Yankees bullpen has attained much attention and praises this season. They have the lowest bullpen ERA in the league right now and have also helped the team in multiple crucial games. However, the same bullpen exploded against the Mets on Wednesday. Gerrit Cole, the starter, set the stage by allowing just one run in six innings. However, the relievers to follow next messed it up completely.

Jimmy Cordero allowed two runs and one walk in just 0.2 innings pitched. With that, the Mets lead leveled the scores. The game went into the 10th inning as Albert Abreu allowed a hit, and the Mets earned their tiebreaker to clinch the second and last game of the series. Apart from the bullpen, the Yankee’s offense also disappointed once again, as none of the veteran batters were able to score. After an off day on Thursday, the team’s campaign will resume on Friday with a series against the Boston Red Sox.