Luke Weaver's Yankees rise continues with five-out save: Lights out

Until a little over a month ago, Luke Weaver didn't have a single save in his major league career.

On Monday, he picked up another big win, ending Game 1 of the ALCS with a 5-2 win over Cleveland.

It was a five-out save that saw the right-hander enter the game in the eighth inning with runners on the corners and one out to face two of the most dangerous hitters in the Guardians' lineup.

He struck out David Fry, got Jose Ramirez to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid the jam created by Tim Hill, then hit a leadoff walk to Lane Thomas in the ninth, passing off Josh Naylor, Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges cheered.

Weaver called the outing “arduous,” but he was up to the task – once again – becoming the first Yankees pitcher to record four saves in a postseason since Mariano Rivera made five saves in 2009.

“He’s been a hit for us since he pitched the ninth inning,” Anthony Rizzo said. “It was fun.”

It may seem like a natural fit now that Weaver is mowing down opposing hitters just before the World Series, but as pitching coach Matt Blake noted late Monday night, there was no guarantee that Weaver would take on the closer role if he were given the role got at the beginning of September.

“It’s always nice to see someone go out and do something and build on it,” Blake said. “You don’t know if anyone would run with it. A lot of guys tried to get the last three outs and had trouble doing that.”

Weaver has shown he is capable of throwing more than one inning, although he said holding his ball from the eighth to ninth innings proved to be a challenge, and the spotlight only gets brighter as the more go the Yankees win the postseason at this point.

He hasn't shied away from anything and is the focal point of a bullpen that has been outstanding this postseason.

Neither Weaver nor Clay Holmes have allowed a run so far in October, with Holmes throwing another dominant inning in the seventh inning after replacing Carlos Rodon.

“You could say he’s the meanest guy we have out there,” Weaver said of Holmes. “He absolutely sets the tone.”

And these days, Weaver is finishing games having allowed just two hits and a walk in six innings while posting nine strikeouts in his four appearances.

Asked if he could keep up the pace, Weaver said, “I'm ready to go,” and Blake added that they would monitor his usage.

The pitching coach noted Weaver's efficiency after his 24-pitch outing.

“We just want him to be himself and attack the zone,” Blake said.