David Bednar helped the New York Yankees secure a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on May 19, just one night after a difficult loss to the Mets. In a tense ninth inning, Bednar managed to prevent another late-game collapse by striking out George Springer and inducing a groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., sealing the win for his team.
The game held significance for both Bednar and the Yankees, as it came after he surrendered a three-run homer in a tough defeat at Citi Field. The ability to rebound quickly is often expected of closers in Major League Baseball, and manager Aaron Boone said there was no need for consolation: “We’ve got a lot of grownups in that room.”
Bednar admitted his frustration from the previous night but emphasized his determination. “It’s not gonna happen again,” Bednar said. He explained his approach under pressure: “Just find a way. There’s a way out of every situation. I think it really just comes down to executing one pitch at a time and really slowing it all down. As simple as it sounds, it’s a lot harder to do.” Teammate Cody Bellinger voiced confidence in Bednar, saying, “He’s our guy… It’s a really tough at-bat.”
The Yankees’ bullpen faced challenges during the game, with leaks emerging despite earlier praise from Boone on May 5 about their performance this season. After allowing an initial run in the ninth inning and loading up runners against him, Bednar responded with three consecutive splitters to strike out Springer before finishing off Guerrero Jr.
Reflecting on last season’s rivalry with Toronto—where both teams finished with identical records but Toronto won eight of thirteen meetings—Jazz Chisholm Jr. said: “Losing to them in the playoffs, we have a different mindset when it comes to them… We owe you something, and we’re going to show you what we’ve got.”
Looking ahead, Bednar summed up his resolve following back-to-back high-pressure outings: “It’s digging deep, getting a little gritty,” he said, “and finding a way.”
