NEW YORK _ The Yankees thought they had bolstered their bullpen at the trade deadline. They brought in lefty closer Zach Britton and Lance Lynn to be a middle-innings bridge to a backend that now featured four closers.
Except it hasn't exactly worked out as smoothly and dominantly as planned. Britton struggled again Saturday, allowing two runs in the seventh, spoiling Lynn's second straight start as the Yankees beat the Rangers, 5-3, at Yankee Stadium.
Britton, who pitched on back-to-back days for the first time as a Yankee and just the fourth time this season, got two quick outs and then lost the strike zone. He gave up a soft infield single to Shin-Soo Choo and a harder hit single to Rougned Odor. He walked Elvis Andrus to load the bases and then battled back to a full-count after falling behind 3-0 to Adrian Beltre only to lose him and walk in a run.
Odor drew a balk from Dellin Betances, tabbed to get the Yankees out of the jam, to score the tying run.
Miguel Andujar's two-run homer in the bottom of the inning gave the Yankees the win, but Britton's struggles raised concern about a bullpen that was supposed to be strength. Aroldis Chapman had struggled with his command and velocity in his last two outings and Britton has been inconsistent.
Saturday, Chapman battled the rain and got out of the ninth after loading the bases with a walk, a single and a hit by pitch. Chapman struck out Jurickson Profar to get the Yankees out of the jam. But neither lefty was very reassuring Saturday.
Coming off Achilles surgery this offseason, Britton was making just his 23rd appearance this season. In seven appearances since the Yankees acquired him from the Orioles, Britton has allowed five earned runs, walked six and struck out eight in six innings of work.
Britton was pitching the seventh in part because the plan to have Lynn bridge the gap from starter to set-up man was changed when Lynn was forced into the rotation.
Lynn, who the Yankees acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline, held the Rangers to one run on five hits. He walked three and struck out eight.
In two starts for the Yankees, Lynn has allowed one earned run over 121/3 innings pitched and handed them a win after a loss. His first appearance in pinstripes was 41/3 innings of relief, saving the Yankees after Sonny Gray imploded.
Lynn, who came out of the bullpen early in his career and in the playoffs for the Cardinals, replaced Gray in the rotation.
