Regardless, with the exception of a 21-day trip to the disabled list, Clay remained on the major league roster the entire season. Clay went 3-4 with a 4.28 ERA during the regular season, but his most memorable performance came in the post-season. The Yankees were leading 4-0 when Clay was called into the first game of the 1978 American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning with one out and the bases loaded. The Royals scored one run on a sacrifice fly by Hal McRae. Clay then retired Al Cowens on a groundout to get out of the inning with just one run scored. He held the Royals hitless the rest of the way to earn the save.