ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. On the way to throwing 17 / innings without allowing an earned run this season, Clay Holmes has often been downright dominant. That was not the case Friday night, but the Yankees closer lived to tell about it. Holmes lost his sinker command but not the game, leaving the bases loaded to finish off a . Clay Holmes pitches during the Yankees win over the Rays on May 10, 2024. Getty Images After walking just one batter through his first 16 appearances of the season, Holmes i sued two free pa ses on Friday, plus a single that loaded the bases with two outs. But he used a sweeper to strike out Jonny DeLuca his third punchout of the frame to lock up his 12th save of the season. The sliders been good all year, Holmes said. I think tonight was one of those situations where I had to lean on it a little more. The sinker, the movement was there but just wasnt quite commanding it like I had been. Sometimes they clip the edges, sometimes they dont. I had to lean on the slider because of that and made some pitches with the slider. Manager Aaron Boone had Ian Hamilton warming in the bullpen, but said he only would have gone to him Gaylord Perry Jersey if Holmes pitch count got out of hand. Explore More Clay Holmes celebrates after the Yankees win over the Rays on May 10, 2024. AP Instead, his 34th pitch of the night ended the game. I was riding him, Boone said. I would have given him one more hitter too. When Boone gave Ron Marinaccio the news Thursday night that he was being optioned back to Triple-A, the Yankees reliever was upset, understandably, according to the manager. Marinaccio was throwing the ball well, lowering his ERA to 1.42 with a scorele s ninth inning Thursday against the Astros, but he was the Yankees odd man out to make room for Nick Burdi, who was activated from the injured list Friday. Rather than having to send out a different arm and risk losing them on waivers, the Yankees optioned Marinaccio to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to maintain as much pitching depth as po sible. Thats a tough conversation to have, Boone said. Rons in a really good place throwing the ball and obviously hes performed well. Anytime youre sending a performing player down, and a guy thats performed in the past for you too and you know is capable, thats a difficult thing to do and conversation to have. But confident hell be an important part of us moving forward as the season unfolds. Gerrit Cole threw off flat ground and will throw a bullpen se sion on Saturday at Tropicana Field, his third since being shut down with elbow nerve inflammation and edema. He will then stay back in Tampa to throw another bullpen se sion at the clubs pitching lab and do some biokinetic stuff. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! DJ LeMahieu (non-displaced foot fracture) also made the trip and will remain back in Tampa when the Yankees head to Minnesota after this series, with the expectation that he will soon advance to facing live pitching. At the Yankees player development complex on Friday morning, Ja son Dominguez (UCL surgery) took fly balls in the outfield and then threw from about 90 feet. He is expected to throw to bases on Saturday for the first time in his rehab proce s. Dominguez is on track to begin a rehab a signment later this month, set to come back first as a DH. Scott Effro s (back surgery, Tommy John rehab) was also there playing catch. Boone on ex-Yankee Clint Frazier signing with the Atlantic League Charleston Dirty Birds: Credit to him for going and continuing his quest. But you never close the book on a guy with a lot of talent. The Yankees transferred Oswald Perazas rehab a signment to Double-A Somerset on Friday. The infielder went 2-for-5 with a home run and two walks in his first two rehab games with Single-A Tampa. Ozzie Smith Jersey