Clay Holmes struggles as Yankees lose AL East lead

Clay Holmes struggled significantly during a recent game against the Texas Rangers, where he allowed a single and two walks, culminating in a game-ending grand slam by rookie Wyatt Langford. This performance led to a 7-4 defeat for the New York Yankees, marking their first time out of first place in the AL East in three weeks. Holmes has now blown a major league-high 11 saves this season, raising concerns about his role as the team's closer. Manager Aaron Boone, typically supportive of Holmes, refrained from committing to him as the closer moving forward, indicating that discussions would take place to determine the best course of action. Holmes himself acknowledged his poor performance, admitting he did not throw well and did not deserve to win the game. Despite Boone's previous comments about Holmes throwing well, the reliever has faced challenges in closing games, particularly with two-strike situations. This loss is particularly critical as the Yankees are in a tight race with the Baltimore Orioles for the division lead and the best record in the American League. Holmes expressed the need to evaluate his performance and improve, emphasizing the importance of moving on from tough games. The Yankees' management will need to assess the situation carefully as they navigate the final stretch of the season, with the pressure mounting on both the team and Holmes himself.