Yankees fall to Astros after late bullpen decision

Aaron Boone uses Devin Williams in a high leverage moment and the move backfires as New York falls to the Astros in extra innings.

Yankees bullpen call draws scrutiny after costly loss

In the top of the 10th, the Yankees turned to Devin Williams in a high leverage moment. His first pitch sailed wide and the Astros capitalized with a sequence of hits that followed, setting the stage for a decisive inning. Taylor Trammell then delivered a two run homer that put the game out of reach and left New York with a 5-3 loss.

New York has now lost six of seven games and 29 of 48 since June 13, a stretch that has put pressure on the roster and on Aaron Boone. The defeat capped a rough patch for a bullpen that has shown flashes but struggled to lock down late innings in recent weeks.

Boone's move highlights how managers weigh risk in late innings. Using Williams in that spot signals a bet on ceiling over track record, but the result raises questions about trust in a high leverage situation. The Yankees have seen inconsistent results from relievers when the game hangs in the balance.

Fans and observers may push for a steadier plan as the season nears its end. The Yankees need bullpen reliability if they want to stay in playoff contention and avoid setting a pattern of questionable decisions in tight games.

Highlights

The coming games will test whether the pitching staff can stabilize under pressure.