Story by
Boston Red Sox bullpen leads league in blown saves despite closer being 4-for-4
- Story by
- Boston Red Sox bullpen leads league in blown saves despite closer being 4-for-4
BOSTON — The Red Sox are tied with the Phillies for the major league lead in blown saves (8).
But it's not a closer/ninth inning issue. Aroldis Chapman is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
It's a setup man issue.
Advertisement
Garrett Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single in the seventh inning for a blown save, then Justin Slaten took the loss when he allowed two runs in the eighth Sunday. The Red Sox lost 5-4 to the Twins here at Fenway Park.
Whitlock has blown saves in back-to-back outings. He has two overall. Slaten, Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly (now at Triple-A Worcester ) each have one. Justin Wilson has three blown saves.
"Tough week for the bullpen," manager Alex Cora said. "But they've got good stuff. They're good pitchers. "We just have to make adjustments."
Whitlock had a streak of six straight scoreless outings before giving up a game-tying three-run homer to Anthony Santander at Toronto in his previous outing Wednesday. Slaten gave up a go-ahead three-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in his previous outing Thursday.
Advertisement
"We have to make sure we execute," Cora said. "There were a lot of two-strike hits. And we've just gotta be better."
Boston ranks 14th in the majors in reliever ERA (4.22). The Red Sox are now 4-9 in one-run games, including two one-run losses in their past two games. Five of their past six losses have been by one run. The other loss was by only two runs.
Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single to Ryan Jeffers in the seventh inning.
"If you look at the pitch to Jeffers, it was right down the middle," Cora said. "He hung an offspeed pitch in the middle."
Advertisement
Whitlock added, "My stuff was good today besides the hanging slider."
Slaten pitched the eighth. He allowed an RBI double on a two-strike four-seam fastball to Harrison Bader that made it 4-3. He had gotten ahead in the count 1-2.
"The fastball to Bader was up in the zone. He was hunting. He got it and put a good swing on it," Cora said.
The RBI single he allowed to Trevor Larnach that made it 5-3 came on a 1-2 curveball.
Slaten said he has had "really good stuff" the past three outings despite a blown save and two losses.
"Getting ahead of guys, getting the swing and miss but it's not happening in two-strike counts when it matters the most and that's the most frustrating part," Slaten said. "I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot. I get to those positions and I'm not executing."
Advertisement
Whitlock pitched a scoreless sixth inning before running into trouble in the seventh. He gave up a leadoff walk to Bader.
"A walk and two singles," Whitlock said. "The first inning was really good and then a leadoff walk and two singles scored two runs."
More Red Sox coverage
Read the original article on MassLive .
