Clay Holmes, Yankees implode in ninth as Marlins steal series – The Denver Post

MIAMI — The Yankees were three outs away from a series win on Sunday, but Clay Holmes’ ninth-inning meltdown handed the set to the Marlins.

Holmes entered the game with a 7-3 lead, but he proceeded to allow three hits, four earned runs and a walk while adding a throwing error before the Yankees called on Tommy Kahnle to extinguish the fire. He couldn’t stop the bleeding after a two-run triple from Luis Arraez, though, as Jake Burger smoked a walk-off single to give the Marlins an 8-7 win.

The Yankees’ implosion wasted a strong start from Gerrit Cole, as he held Miami to two earned runs over six innings. He allowed six hits and two walks while striking out six over 99 pitches.

Cole now has a 2.76 ERA this season.

The Marlins’ first run came on a Arraez single in the third-inning, which followed a high throw from Cole on a potential double play ball that Anthony Volpe bobbled while corralling it at second base. Burger gave the Marlins another run in the sixth with an RBI single.

With Keynan Middleton in for the Yankees, Bryan De La Cruz plated an additional run in the eighth inning on a double that Billy McKinney misplayed in left field.

The Yankees’ lineup, on the other hand, bounced back after getting stifled by Sandy Alcantara on Saturday.

Volpe’s two-run homer in the fourth inning provided the biggest blow, but the Yankees began scoring in the second inning when Isiah Kiner-Falefa recorded an RBI single. Ex-Marlin Giancarlo Stanton followed up with an RBI double in the third.

The fifth frame saw Gleyber Torres make moves with his legs, as he stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch. The Yankees added another run that inning on a fielder’s choice, while Torres ultimately stole three bases in the game, setting a career-high. He now has 12 this season.

Ben Rortvedt capped the Bombers’ scoring in the sixth inning when he hit his first home run as a Yankee. The solo shot was also the catcher’s first jack in the majors since 2021.

Four of the Yankees’ runs were charged to Eury Pérez. The 20-year-old rookie has enjoyed a stellar start to his big league career, but he only lasted four innings on Sunday.

After failing to do so on Sunday, the Yankees will try to end their three-city road trip with a series win, as they begin a three-game set with the Braves in Atlanta on Monday. Winning that matchup will be easier said than done, as the Braves boast the best record in the majors.

Clarke Schmidt, who grew up a Braves fan in Georgia, will start the first game for the Yankees, while Luis Severino is Tuesday’s scheduled starter. Randy Vásquez is lined up to pitch Wednesday, but the Yankees could use an opener for him, which is what they did in Miami.

Max Fried, Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton are scheduled to start for Atlanta.

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