The Yankees had a one-run lead to protect Thursday night, and David Bednar made sure it was enough. He needed just 12 pitches to finish New York’s 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox and record his 31st save.
There was a time when the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium felt like a long walk toward a disappointing ending. Bednar has changed that feeling. When he jogs in from the bullpen, the crowd expects him to take control and close out the game.
David Bednar has stabilized the Yankees’ ninth inning
Bednar’s numbers support that growing confidence. He owns a 2.31 ERA across 58.1 innings, with 65 strikeouts, 18 walks and a 0.98 WHIP. He has converted 31 of 34 save opportunities, providing the dependable late-inning work a contender needs.
Thursday’s appearance was as efficient as it gets: three batters, no runs and game over. Those outings may not always produce the loudest reaction, but they allow the rest of the Yankees to play with greater confidence in close games.
Bednar is not trying to make the closer’s job look difficult. He attacks the strike zone, works quickly and gives catcher Austin Wells the opportunity to finish the inning with the best pitch available.
That reliability matters, particularly during the late-season push. The Yankees already face significant pressure in every close game. They do not need their closer creating another problem when a lead is on the line.
The Yankees have a closer they can trust
The postseason will present more demanding situations than a one-run August game against Boston. Bednar will allow runs again because every closer does. What he has earned, however, is the benefit of the doubt when the game reaches the ninth inning.
For now, the Yankees have a reliever who can turn a narrow lead into a handshake line. That is the job, and Bednar is doing it well.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
