The Yankees didn’t just need a win Sunday against the Red Sox. They needed Will Warren to soak up innings, steady a taxed bullpen and keep the game from getting sideways.
He did all of that and then some.
Warren carried the game into the eighth inning, held Boston to one run on six hits and struck out seven in New York’s 16-1 blowout at Yankee Stadium. He also walked one and improved to 9-6, giving the Yankees exactly the kind of outing they were chasing after a doubleheader Saturday left the bullpen short on options.
“Yeah, he had great stuff today, maybe his best outing of the year and it came at a great time,” manager Aaron Boone told Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network.
Boone didn’t hide how badly the Yankees needed Warren to keep the game in order.
“We were short today. You go into days like this sometimes and first thing is you wanna get through it, and you’re not sure how we’re gonna get to the finish line but it starts with Will Warren giving us some quality innings, and not only did he do that but to get us into the eighth inning and for us to get a big lead like that, it was a great day.”
Warren mixed four pitches - a fastball, sinker, sweeper and change-up - and showed early poise when Boston threatened in the first. Roman Anthony, back after missing 101 games with a hand and wrist injury, opened the game with a double. Warren then walked Wilyer Abreu, but he shut the door by getting Wilson Contreras to swing through a sweeper and Adley Rutschman to look at strike three.
After that, he settled in and barely blinked while the Yankees’ offense finally took control with a five-run fifth inning.
Warren said he knew the bullpen situation going in and kept his focus simple.
“I knew we were short [in the bullpen], but I think every week I just go out there and try to get as many outs as possible,” said Warren, whose ERA had spiked from 3.45 to 4.39 over his previous 11 games, told reporters. “So that was my goal today was just - no matter what happens, just keep getting outs.”
The Yankees closed out the season series with Boston by winning it 7-6 and now head out West still chasing the American League East title and a playoff spot. If everyone is healthy, their postseason rotation is expected to be led by Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, with Warren likely moving into a bullpen role.
For one Sunday, though, he looked every bit like the answer the Yankees needed in a game that mattered right now.
“They needed innings, they needed length, he was going up against a tough customer in Ranger Suarez and matched him every step of the way and out-dueled him, out-threw him all day long,” David Cone said on the YES Network. “Just seemed to be his best performance of the year.”
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