Camilo Doval Remains A Problem As Yankees’ Bullpen Struggles In Loss To Brewers

Asked to pitch in a high-leverage situation for the first time in a while, Camilo Doval disappointed on Saturday.

With the Yankees up 2-1 with one out in the eighth inning, the flame-thrower relieved Brent Headrick, who surrendered a solo homer to Jake Bauers the previous inning. Doval quickly recorded an out, getting Jackson Chourio to pop up to Austin Wells.

But Doval gave up a single to Brice Turang after that. Never particularly good at controlling the running game, Doval then let Turang steal second before permitting a game-tying single to William Contreras.

The sequence proved costly in what became a 4-3, 10-inning, series-losing defeat for the Yankees in Milwaukee. While Ryan McMahon put the Yankees back in front with a single in the top of the 10th, the Brewers tied the game again in the bottom of the inning when Chourio picked up an infield single against Fernando Cruz.

With runners on first and second and one away, new reliever Tim Hill then made the unwise decision to throw to third after fielding a comebacker. His throw hit Luis Rengifo. With no outs recorded and the bases juiced, Contreras then ended the game with a sac fly.

While Doval wasn’t the only Yankees reliever to allow a run after Cam Schlittler threw six scoreless innings on Saturday, the fact that he has been untrustworthy in high-leverage situations is a problem for the Bombers.

The club was counting on the former Giants closer and 2023 All-Star to be its setup man for David Bednar, but Doval owns a 6.14 ERA and has shown that he has no business being in tight ballgames after a little more than a month of play.

While Doval, acquired from San Francisco at the trade deadline last summer, opened the season with three scoreless outings, he has allowed at least one earned run in seven of his 14 appearances since then.

Doval, erratic throughout his career, has managed to cut back on his free passes; he didn’t allow any on Saturday and entered the game with a 5.0 BB%. That would be a career low over a full season, and yet Doval has remained a liability after making a less-than-stellar first impression last season.

With Doval and company off their games, the Yankees’ bullpen also spoiled a strong offensive night from Paul Goldschmidt. The veteran first baseman opened the game with a home run, his third of the season. At 38 years, 241 days, Goldschmidt became the oldest player in Yankees history with a leadoff long ball.

Goldschmidt wasn’t done there, adding an RBI single off the glove of Rengifo in the fourth frame.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Goldschmidt’s efforts weren’t enough with the bullpen scuffling and their lineup going 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position.