NEW YORK — Devin Williams had pitched once before at Yankee Stadium, a couple of years ago with the Milwaukee Brewers. He struck out Aaron Judge to end the ninth inning. Williams was back on the mound in the Bronx on Opening Day on Thursday and struck out Christian Yelich, the best hitter on his old team, to win the game.
It’s the same job now, just a different shade of pinstripes, right?
“It’s the same game in my mind,” Williams said in the home clubhouse after the Yankees’ 4-2 victory. “Obviously, there’s a little bit of different expectations, more eyes on you here. But none of that’s going through my mind when I’m on the mound.”
Then the cameras shut off and Williams took another glance at the throng of reporters, a big-city flex for the big day.
“It was a little different,” he allowed. “You guys got enough for two teams in here.”
Three minutes with the New York media was nothing compared to three outs against his old team. It took 36 pitches, more than Williams had ever thrown in a save and the most in his last 100 appearances, postseason included.
Read more on Williams and the Yankees below.
GO FURTHER
A smash and a save in the sunshine: Not a bad opening act for the Yankees