Connect with us

Published

on

NEW YORK — Devin Williams‘ nightmare season continued Monday night with another poor outing in the New York Yankees4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres at a rainy Yankee Stadium.

The right-hander entered in the eighth inning with the Yankees leading 3-0. He exited with two outs — both on strikeouts — and the bases loaded after yielding a hit and two walks, leaving Luke Weaver, who recently replaced him as the club’s closer, to clean the mess. But Weaver surrendered a pair of two-run hits to squander the lead as the Yankees fell to 19-16.

Williams was charged with three runs, increasing his ERA to 10.03 in 14 games this season. He departed to another smattering of boos from a scant crowd that stuck around to brave the elements and watch his first appearance at home since being demoted from the closer role.

But unlike his previous disappointing outings, Williams is confident the appearance was an outlier and attributed his performance to his inability to adjust to the sloppy conditions in the rain.

“Both walks were obviously not what you’re trying to do, but I was kind of battling myself there with the landing spot,” Williams said. “Tough to control the fastball today.”

Williams said his trouble with the landing spot affected his fastball’s release point. The right-hander threw seven of his 12 fastballs for balls, mostly yanking them to his glove side.

He appeared sharp when he struck out Martin Maldonado on four pitches to begin his outing. He also struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. on a changeup with runners on first and second base before Tatis was ejected for expressing his discontent with the strike zone.

But Williams walked Tyler Wade on six pitches, spraying four around the strike zone; yielded a single to Brandon Lockridge on an 0-2 fastball; and surrendered a four-pitch free pass — all fastballs — to Luis Arraez to load the bases and end his night.

Weaver then gave up a two-run double to Manny Machado and a two-run single to Xander Bogaerts to lose the lead. The fourth run was charged to Weaver — the first earned run he has given up this season. The right-hander has an 0.59 ERA over 15⅓ innings this season.

“I feel good, I feel confident on the mound,” Williams said. “I felt like I was in a good spot. It’s one of those nights where you’re not only battling the hitter, I was battling the mound. But we’re all given the same set of circumstances and I couldn’t pull through tonight.”

The 30-year-old Williams was a slow starter in his six-plus seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he never struggled nearly to this extent.

Williams posted a 1.83 ERA in his time in Milwaukee, winning 2020 NL Rookie of the Year and making two All-Star teams behind his elite screwball-like changeup known as The Airbender. He gave up 13 earned runs in 80⅓ innings across 83 appearances as the Brewers’ closer over the past two seasons. He already has matched that earned run total in only 11⅔ innings with the Yankees.

“The biggest thing, again, is just command and being ahead and not putting guys on,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Stuff’s there. Stuff’s fine and I do believe he’ll get on a roll and be lights out and dominant. But the command part of it, where the walks or getting behind in certain situations, have hurt him a little bit.”

Boos from the home crowd have accompanied the struggles. Williams heard them when he struggled on Opening Day. And he heard them again as he gave up three runs to the Toronto Blue Jays without recording an out on April 25 — his last appearance as the Yankees’ closer, at least for the time being.

On Monday, Carlos Rodon, who sparkled over 6⅔ scoreless innings, voiced his support to Williams after his appearance. Two years ago, Rodon was the recipient of boos during his dreadful, injury-plagued first season in the Bronx. He understands the pressure. He wants his teammate to just stay the course.

“I’ve been through it,” Rodon said. “I know what that feels like. It’s not easy. But we acquired him for a reason. He’s such a great pitcher. Just needs to build that confidence and he needs to know what kind of pitcher he is. He’s so good. He’s tremendous. We got him for a reason and it’s an unbelievable changeup. Just go out there and pitch with some swagger.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Published

on

By

Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

Published

on

By

'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Published

on

By

'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

Continue Reading

Trending