Yankees to use closer by committee after Holmes' blown save - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — Clay Holmes won't be the automatic choice as the closer for the New York Yankees in the short term after giving up a game-ending grand slam to the Texas Rangers for his major-league-high 11th blown save this season.

Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the club will consider several options, Holmes included, while continuing to support the two-time All-Star coming off a rough outing.

Rookie Wyatt Langford's grand slam followed a single by Carson Kelly and consecutive walks to Josh Smith and Marcus Semien, giving the Rangers a 7-4 victory on Tuesday night.

«In the short term, we'll kind of just get a little creative with it,» Boone said before the series finale against the Rangers. «I feel like he's throwing the ball really well in a lot of ways. Last night it was certainly a little off and they got to him. But the reality is he's really not that far off from being the dominant guy we know he can be.»

Langford fouled off a full-count slider to stay alive before hitting a hanging 85.8 mph slider 407 down the left-field line.

Holmes' blown saves — which have come in 40 chances — are the most since Dave Righetti had 13 in 1987, tying the Yankees record set by Goose Gossage in 1983.

Boone stuck with Holmes after the right-hander's previous blown save Aug. 18 against Detroit in Major League Baseball's Little League Classic. Holmes had five scoreless outings with three saves before the loss to the Rangers.

The closer-by-committee decision from Boone came with the Yankees in a tight race with Baltimore for the best record in the American League and the AL East lead. The Orioles were a half-game ahead to start the day.

Right-hander Jake Cousins has a save and a 2.73 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 30 innings. Luke