The Boston Red Sox enter Thursday tied with the New York Yankees in the American League East standings. They can thank Devin Williams for the help.
Williams’ season-long struggles continued on Wednesday, when the All-Star relief pitcher allowed four runs in the eighth inning. The Yankees relinquished a 5-3 lead to the Houston Astros, and their ninth-inning rally fell short in an 8-7 loss.
The Yankees acquired Williams last offseason, expecting to enjoy a shutdown closer who posted a 1.83 ERA in six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s instead registered a 5.60 ERA with four blown saves and six losses.
After permitting a leadoff double to Carlos Correa, Williams loaded the bases by walking Jesus Sánchez and Christian Walker. With two out, he walked in a run on a ball four that appeared to get plenty of the plate.
Williams and Yankees manager Aaron Boone both got ejected, and Camilo Doval did his teammate no favors by allowing all three inherited runners to score. Williams directed the blame toward Bryan Walsh after the game, per YES Network, telling reporters that the home plate umpire missed four calls that inning.
“When you’re making good pitches, which I was, not getting those calls really changes the course of an at-bat,” Williams said. “Obviously, Correa hit the double, so I kind of had my back against the wall right away. Made some really good pitches to Sánchez, which (Walsh) missed two in that at-bat. I competed, but … I don’t know. That’s just ridiculous.”
The Yankees may have a valid gripe. According to Umpire Scorecards, Walsh’s calls favored the Astros by plus-1.4 expected runs on Wednesday night.
However, that was far from Williams’ first shaky outing of 2025. He’s allowed multiple runs in 10 appearances this season, prompting the Yankees to add fellow closers Doval and David Bednar at the trade deadline.
The Bronx Bombers can use an effective Williams to beat out Boston and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and make some serious noise in October.
