New closer Luke Weaver secures the Yankees’ victory

At the trade deadline, it seemed obvious that the Yankees needed a closer, as Clay Holmes had struggled in that role for over a month.

Instead, general manager Brian Cashman went out and acquired Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos, with Cashman saying he wanted to give Aaron Boone “as many opportunities to navigate late-game action (as possible). I don’t see Clay as a problem.”

Who knew the proximity the Yankees needed was already in their clubhouse?

Holmes has since been replaced by Luke Weaver at the end of games and the duo was big in Saturday’s 6-5 win in Game 1 of the ALDS over Kansas City in the Bronx, as Holmes got five outs in the middle innings before Weaver closed it out with a four-out save.

For Holmes, it was his latest example of playoff success, as he did not allow a run in 9²/₃ postseason innings, while Weaver did an excellent job in his first playoff appearance.

Holmes was impressed with his replacement, especially because Weaver did so over the course of two innings.

“The last three outs are not easy,” Holmes said. “Getting into the dugout, cooling down and getting back out is hard. What he does is a huge boost for the team.”

On Saturday, Holmes provided a similar boost.

Gerrit Cole was thrown around for more than five innings and replaced by Tim Hill before Anthony Volpe’s throwing error put runners on second and third with one out.

Hill gave up a two-run single to pinch hitter Garrett Hampson, and Holmes came in and got Maikel Garcia to move to center.

Michael Massey reached on an infield single, but Holmes brought Bobby Witt Jr. to third to end the sixth run with the Yankees trailing.

The Yankees tied the game with an RBI single by Austin Wells in the bottom of the inning and Holmes remained in the game to start the seventh inning.

Although dangerous left-hander Vinnie Pasquantino took the lead, Holmes got him to fly left.

Salvador Perez failed on the ground and Yuli Gurriel came out for Holmes’ fifth and final away goal.

Holmes’ performance helped the Yankees take the lead for good in the seventh on Alex Verdugo’s run-scoring base hit.

Weaver reached the final in the eighth and then retired the top of the Kansas City lineup – including Witt – to complete the victory.

“He was excellent,” Boone said of Weaver. “Especially being in the playoffs for the first time and moving to the top of that leaderboard right after the eighth inning was over is no easy task, and he was up to the task.”

They are part of a bullpen that is doing well down the stretch and will need to be tested this postseason, especially since Cole failed to get an out in the sixth inning of the opener.