The Yankees new reliever had a rough debut against his former team but ultimately he settled in and closed out the season opener.

As Yelich whiffed at a high, inside, 95-mph fastball for the last pitch of the game, the typically soft-spoken Williams pumped his arms and let out a roar. Yankees catcher Austin Wells then ran toward the mound for a hug before the Bombers shook hands.

Twice, Williams used the word “weird” to explain a day and performance that was not quite customary. First, as he lined up on the first-base side of the field during pregame ceremonies, he peeked across to see some teammates he had shared a clubhouse with since getting his call-up in 2019.