A roaring Yankee Stadium crowd rose in unison as Devin Williams approached the dugout.

Williams had just completed his first four-out appearance of the year, preserving a three-run lead against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALDS, as the Yankees turned to closer David Bednar with one out in the eighth inning.

The ovation did not go unnoticed.

“It’s nice to feel appreciated sometimes,” Williams said after the Yankees’ 9-6 win on Tuesday night . “It was definitely a lot better than what I’ve heard for much of the year.”

Indeed, Williams endured a difficult debut season with the Yankees, who acquired the two-time National League Reliever of the Year last winter in a trade that sent starter Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Williams, 31, pi

See Full Page