Holmes' blown save squanders Rodón's 11-K gem
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ARLINGTON -- Yankees closer Clay Holmes suffered his MLB-leading 11th blown save this season in a 7-4 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday at Globe Life Field, pulling his club down to second place in the AL East after two weeks of sitting in the top spot every day.
Holmes squandered a one-run lead with a shaky ninth inning that ended on rookie Wyatt Langford’s walk-off grand slam. After recording the first out, Holmes allowed a single and then went wild for two walks. Langford hit the seventh pitch of the at-bat out to left field, where Alex Verdugo barely moved as the ball carried into the seats.
Before faltering, the Yankees got six strong innings from starter Carlos Rodón and a seventh-inning rally from their offense.
Rodón struck out a season-high 11, dominating the Rangers while allowing only one hit, a Josh Jung solo homer on the first pitch of the fourth inning.
With the loss, the Yankees dropped to a half-game behind the Orioles.