Tommy Kahnle earned his first save in more than a year in ALDS Game 4, maybe the biggest of his life
This browser does not support the video element.
The Yankees have one of the best bullpens in baseball. There's Dellin Betances' disappearing slider, Aroldis Chapman's rocket-powered fastball and David Robertson's unhittable cutter. But after Luis Severino's dominating performance in Game 4 of the ALDS on Monday (and after Betances running into some trouble starting the eighth), Joe Girardi turned to a man who had just three saves in four big league seasons. In fact, he hadn't closed out a game in more than a year.
It was time for ... Thomas Robert Kahnle.
The 28-year-old, who had been great down the stretch for New York, came in with no outs and runners on first and second -- hoping to protect a 7-3 lead. And protect he did. The right-hander notched a six-out save -- striking out five of the six batters he faced. Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall all went down swinging to end the game:
He was also the first pitcher with five strikeouts and a save in a postseason elimination game ... ever.
So yes, the Yankees bullpen is ever better than you thought it was. Tune into ALDS Game 5: Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET on FS1.