Trio of relievers go from non-factors to X-factors as Yankees secure World Series return

CLEVELAND — Three relief pitchers that barely figured into the Yankees’ plans when spring training ended helped punch their ticket to the World Series.Tim Hill, Jake Cousins and Luke Weaver combined on the final 14 outs Saturday as the Yankees defeated the Guardians, 5-2, in Game 5 of the ALCS.Weaver was the winning pitcher after Juan Soto’s tie-breaking three-run home run in the top of the 10th inning.As late as June 18, Hill was toiling with a 5.87 ERA for the White Sox, who would become the worst single-season team in modern MLB history.

He was released the next day, and now his former teammates and coaches are watching him get big outs day after day in playoff games.And Hill wasn’t alone in getting the last laugh.Cousins — who didn’t make the White Sox roster out of spring training and was subsequently traded to the Yankees — also answered the bell in Game 5.The duo combined for eight big outs.The side-arming left-hander Hill faced four batters and got two double plays — no easy feat — to help the Yankees keep the score tied at 2-2.Pitching for the third day in a row and for the fifth time in five games this series because top relievers Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle were likely unavailable, Hill replaced Mark Leiter Jr.

with one on and one out in the sixth.He gave up a single to Bo Naylor before inducing a 4-4-3 double play from Andres Gimenez.Manager Aaron Boone stuck with Hill to start the seventh and showed faith in him after issuing a leadoff walk to Brayan Rocchio.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Hill rewarded the faith by retiring Steven Kwan — who extended his Cleveland franchise record postseason on-base streak to 16 straight games earlier — on an unassisted double play b...