The Yankees' Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes dominate again, shutting out the Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday night, it was Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver who closed out the Yankees' ALDS with a 3-1 win over the Royals in Game 4, capping a bullpen to a near-perfect performance in the series. At this point, it's probably as strong as any in the postseason.

“We were always confident there,” Holmes said of the pen. “We rested a little bit (at the end of the regular season) and that was good for us. Now we are all together and we have to move on.”

Over the course of the series, the Yankee relievers combined to pitch 15²/₃ innings without allowing an earned run, and Weaver appeared to have solidified his role as closer.

“We always believed we were good enough,” Holmes said of the pen. “We had ups and downs, but it’s nice to see the boys gave their best when we needed it most.”

After Holmes brought in Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr. to end the bottom of the eighth quarter, Weaver stepped in and retired Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Yuli Gurriel to help send the Yankees to the ALCS.

“We've been fighting to get better all year, and for me it's been a tough road to get there,” Weaver said. “It’s hard to believe when you’re the one who makes the final.”

Weaver and Holmes have experienced setbacks in their careers and this season.

But both have emerged as late weapons for Aaron Boone.

“We’re in such a good position down there now,” Boone said. “So many guys are throwing it well that it gives us a lot of options, which is important this time of year.”

Weaver keeps getting the last out, but Holmes remains a stopper in October, extending his scoreless playoff streak to 13 innings in 10 appearances.

He lost his closer role early in the season, but has become one of the most important parts of the Yankees' postseason team.

“Things didn’t go perfectly and I can accept that,” Holmes said before the game. “Sometimes it’s not perfect and I can be limited at times, but I still know what kind of pitcher I can be.”

And there's a reason the right-hander believes he was able to pitch so well in October.

The stressful situation forces Holmes to think less and just pitch.

“(The playoffs) allow me to take it one game at a time and treat each game as the most important in the game,” Holmes said. “It simplifies things. It makes sure your mind isn't thinking about that track or that batsman. You have to get every batsman out because that shot can be the deciding point in the game. You never know with these games. For me, this mentality simplifies things and helps me get the most out of my stuff right from the start. It makes me want to attack.”

Perhaps that explains some of Holmes' struggles this season, but the Yankees have continued to talk about specific “lanes of righties” that Holmes is cut out for.

And there's no denying he's become more effective since being released from the closer role. During the regular season, Holmes had a 3.86 ERA and a 1.548 WHIP over 42 innings in 45 saves. In 22 saves, Holmes posted a 1.71 ERA with a 0.810 WHIP over 21 innings.

“I can still come out and be a really good pitcher,” Holmes said. “I know the team we have here and what we are capable of. No matter what role it plays, I want to be a part of it. I want to help. This helped me to be resilient. I have good teammates who supported me and gave me the confidence that I would get back on my feet.”