Aaron Boone is pushing the buttons of the right-handed bullpen at the right time for the Yankees

Aaron Boone is pushing the buttons of the right-handed bullpen at the right time for the Yankees

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The jigsaw puzzle is put together just right.

Four relief pitchers combined to get the last 13 wins on Wednesday and allowed the score to stay tied long enough for Giancarlo Stanton’s crucial home run, giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Royals in Game 3 of the ALDS.

“Just full confidence in them,” Clark Schmidt said after throwing the first 4²/₃ innings. “I think that’s been one of our strengths, if not our main strength, all year.”

Luke Weaver breathes a sigh of relief after the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the Royals in Game 3 of the ALDS on October 9, 2024. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Of the 13 wins the bullpen recorded, only one was by shutout — a testament to what makes the Royals such a scrappy opponent and to the surprisingly effective defense the Yankees played despite having out-of-position players all over the diamond.

“I think it’s not always going to be dominant,” closer Luke Weaver said after scoring the final five points. “You try to change your methods as a pitcher, you try to throw the ball a different way. But there are some really good players all over the field, so sometimes you get it wrong.”

No need for luck here.

The Yankees had the sixth-best bullpen-era bullpen (3.62) during the regular season despite a cycle of injury-induced moving parts, but a case can be made that the group has never been stronger than it is now.

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The bullpen did not allow an earned run in 13 ²/₃ innings during the Series.

Weaver, who has become almost automatic since assuming the role in September, worked a disappointing ninth inning.

The Royals’ last hope, pinch-hitter Tommy Pham, was grounded out on the first pitch of the final at-bat.

Demoted closer Clay Holmes – who was used in an important role to clean up the mid-inning mess in the playoffs similar to David Robertson in years past – had perhaps the biggest hit when he stranded runners in the corners after the Royals scored twice. In the fifth inning.

Holmes stayed in the sixth inning 1-2-3 with the score still tied 2-2. Tommy Kahnle (1-0) was also good, retiring all four batters he faced, including the first batter of the eighth.

Clay Holmes had four big hits in the middle innings in the Yankees’ Game 3 win. Getty Images

“Shortened the game enough for Weave,” manager Aaron Boone said. “The bullpen was great.”

Weaver was greeted with a single from left side by Bobby Witt Jr.

This is where the web gem enters the equation.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe caught the ball behind second base to rob Vinnie Pasquantino of a hit that likely put runners on first and third with one out.

Tommy Kahnle had four key home runs in the seventh and eighth innings in the Yankees’ Game 3 win. Getty Images

The runners advanced to the corners with two outs, anyway, but Weaver retired longtime Yankees foe Yuli Gurriel on a fly ball to center field.

“That’s why it’s so important to get the lead,” Aaron Judge said. “They’re so electric. You’ve got a lot of different players that can take on different types of hitters well. My hat’s off to them. It’s just a matter of getting the initiative and throwing it to those guys.”

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