Andrew Heaney Buckles Down to Earn First Yankees Win, Saving New York's Bullpen

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andrew Heaney buckled down after a rough start against the Seattle Mariners, fighting for his first win with the Yankees

NEW YORK — Yankees fans were still filing to their seats on Saturday afternoon when left-hander Andrew Heaney gave up a two-run home run in the top of the first. 

When the Mariners pushed two more runs across in the second, taking a 4-1 lead, it looked like Heaney was approaching the end of another disastrous outing in pinstripes.

Brought over from the Angels at last week's trade deadline, Heaney allowed four long balls against Baltimore in a blowout loss on Monday. 

And yet, just as quickly as Heaney started struggling on Saturday, the southpaw was able to settle into a groove and begin to dominate.

Over his next four innings of work, Heaney faced just one over the minimum, breezing through Seattle's lineup. Striking out the side in the top of the sixth, Heaney wrapped up his outing with a total of nine punch outs. 

Heaney admitted after the game that his first two innings were "terrible," revealing that he made a few mechanical changes entering his third frame on the mound. As much as the lefty was proud to turn his start around, hearing cheers by the end rather than a smattering of boos, he also recognized the importance of his efficient reversal for the rest of the pitching staff.

After the Yankees used nine different relievers on Friday night in a record-setting bullpen day, Heaney helped eat up innings, the kind of length that manager Aaron Boone and his 'pen were desperately coveting on Saturday.

"Normally I wouldn't even let him go that long in second, but obviously with our situation today, we needed it," Boone said after the win. "Just really proud of that effort. That's a tough effort right there. When you're coming to a new team, you're trying to find your way, you're up against it, and you keep on going. It was a really good performance by him"

Aaron Judge: "Heaney's a bulldog... He's the player of the game."

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 7, 2021

After five quiet innings from the Yankees' offense, New York put up a four spot in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 5-4 lead and lining up Heaney for his first Yankee victory. 

"I'm just extremely glad after putting us in a hole and not really giving us much of a chance early, to be able to come back and give our offense a chance there in the bottom of the six, to do what they do," Heaney said. "And they did."

Andrew Heaney on winning a game in a #Yankees uniform, helping in a playoff race:

"Shit, that's what you dream of. That's number one."

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 7, 2021

Two more trade deadline additions—Clay Holmes and Joely Rodriguez—bridged the gap from Heaney to the ninth. With Aroldis Chapman headed to the injured list with left elbow inflammation, Jonathan Loaisiga was summoned to get the final three outs, retiring the side in order for his fourth save of the season.

The victory is New York's fifth in a row and their 10th in their last 12 games. Since July 6, the Bombers are now 19-8, the best record in all of Major League Baseball. 

MORE:

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• Still Settling In, Joey Gallo Enjoys His Yankees Breakout

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