New York Yankees relief pitcher Fernando Cruz. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees bullpen suffers historic meltdown against Tigers

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 8:17 AM ET

The New York Yankees supposedly improved their bullpen at this year's MLB trade deadline. Tuesday night, however, was another example that there is still plenty of work to be done in the later innings in the Bronx.

Taking on the Detroit Tigers in what could be a potential postseason matchup, New York's bullpen imploded in a historic way as Detroit's offense proved to be too much for Yankees relievers Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. The pair of relievers combined to give up nine runs on four hits without recording an out as the Tigers piled on those nine runs in the seventh inning to blow apart a 2-2 tie. The inability to record an out while Detroit stacked hits and runs in the Bronx gave the two relievers an unwanted place in the MLB record books.

Yankees are the 2nd MLB team in the last 75 years to have 2 relievers allow 4+ ER and get 0 outs in a game.

The Angels also did it on August 31, 1999 vs Indians
— Katie Sharp (@SharpStats17) September 10, 2025

The implosion ruined what had been a solid start for New York right-hander Will Warren, who limited the Tigers to two runs and two hits over 6.0 innings. It also turned around what had been a very positive sign for the Yankees heading into the series with Detroit. Yankees pitchers had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 of their last 25 games (since Aug. 11) and two earned runs or fewer in 12 of those games, posting an MLB-best 3.27 ERA over that span.

Per Stats Perform, Warren’s start made him the fifth rookie pitcher to start 30 or more games for the Yankees in one season, joining Russ Ford (33 in 1910), Fritz Peterson (32 in 1966), Stan Bahnsen (34 in 1968) and Doc Medich (32 in 1973).

While there was plenty to celebrate about the start, the bullpen's performance was a reminder that New York still has issues to solve if it wants to make another deep October run. The Yankees' bullpen has a 4.27 ERA even before Tuesday's issues, ranking them 20th overall among MLB 30 teams in the category. Only the Philadelphia Phillies (4.31) have a higher ERA from their bullpen of teams that would be in the postseason if the regular season ended today.

So what comes next? After a 12-2 loss to the Tigers in a game that was tied heading into the top of the seventh, the Yankees can only hope that Tuesday's meltdown isn't repeated if New York reaches October.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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