{"id":42589,"date":"2025-04-20T08:04:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-20T08:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=42589"},"modified":"2025-04-20T08:04:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T08:04:57","slug":"aaron-judge-makes-powerful-devin-williams-declaration-after-brutal-loss-to-rays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=42589","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Judge makes powerful Devin Williams declaration after brutal loss to Rays"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Yankee captain still has faith in closer Devin Williams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Apr<\/figure>\n
The\u00a0New York Yankees\u00a0took an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday and handed the ball over to new closer\u00a0Devin Williams. Twenty-two pitches later and the game was tied heading into extra innings.\u00a0Williams’ embarrassing meltdown\u00a0against the Tampa Bay Rays was the latest misstep for the two-time All-Star. But Yankees\u2019 captain\u00a0Aaron Judge\u00a0isn\u2019t concerned.<\/p>\n

After the game, the reigning American League MVP addressed Williams’ struggles. \u201cWe went out and got him for a reason. He’s the best closer in the game. We got a long season. This guy’s gonna save a lot of ballgames for us and help us out. I’m not worried at all. He knows what he needs to do. He’ll go out there. He’ll figure it out. Everybody in this room, we want him coming out of the bullpen, especially in a tight game,\u201d Judge said, per the New York Daily News\u2019 Gary Phillips on X.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s who we want on the mound. Nobody in here is worried. He\u2019s gonna get the job done,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The Yankees need Devin Williams to return to form<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Apr
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Judge may not be worried that\u00a0Williams blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning but Yankees fans are growing a bit uneasy. After the Rays tied the score and sent the game to extra innings, Jonathan Aranda hit a walk-off two-run home run in the 10th inning off Yoendrys Gomez to give the Rays the 10-8 victory.<\/p>\n

After yet another rough outing Williams now has a 9.00 ERA and 2.250 WHIP in eight innings this season, as his\u00a0Yankees tenure is off to a rocky start.<\/p>\n

New York acquired Williams in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The\u00a0Yankees avoided arbitration by reaching an agreement\u00a0with the closer on an $8.6 million contract for 2025.<\/p>\n

The two-time Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year is replacing former Yankees closer Clay Holmes, who signed with the New York Mets in free agency over the offseason. Williams is considered a significant upgrade. But his struggles in pinstripes, which began with a\u00a0shaky Yankees debut performance, have been alarming.<\/p>\n

Still, Judge\u2019s vote of confidence should help calm any rising tensions within the locker room. New York took a five-game winning streak into Saturday\u2019s game. Despite the loss, the Yankees still hold a one-game lead over the second-place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.<\/p>\n

Judge went 3-5 on Saturday with three RBI and a run scored. He\u2019s now slashing a blistering .397\/.505\/.731. The Yankees wrap up their four-game series with the Rays on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Yankee captain still has faith in closer Devin Williams. 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