{"id":53113,"date":"2025-05-05T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T09:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=53113"},"modified":"2025-05-05T09:00:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T09:00:46","slug":"boston-red-sox-bullpen-leads-league-in-blown-saves-despite-closer-being-4-for-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=53113","title":{"rendered":"Boston Red Sox bullpen leads league in blown saves despite closer being 4-for-4"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<nav aria-label=\"articleLabel\">\n<ol id=\"articleLabel__list\">\n<li id=\"articleLabel__listItem\">Red Sox<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<ul>\n<li><time datetime=\"2025-05-04174638018500017:36:25\">Updated: May. 04, 2025, 5:36 p.m.<\/time><\/li>\n<li><span aria-hidden=\"true\">|<\/span><time datetime=\"2025-05-04174637995600017:32:36\">Published: May. 04, 2025, 5:32 p.m.<\/time><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\">\n<article id=\"arc-BQHOT462HNGRNL2D66EX2AITG4\" data-type=\"article\">\n<div>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<div><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/TESOS3MBN5FY3OYKTYF6SCZHJA.jpg?auth=bc32c50a193cbf90f266c177f351a2676681ed6d65b387f15f3c0110e4aee7fe&amp;width=500&amp;quality=90 500w\" media=\"(max-width: 500px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/TESOS3MBN5FY3OYKTYF6SCZHJA.jpg?auth=bc32c50a193cbf90f266c177f351a2676681ed6d65b387f15f3c0110e4aee7fe&amp;width=800&amp;quality=90 800w\" media=\"(max-width: 800px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/TESOS3MBN5FY3OYKTYF6SCZHJA.jpg?auth=bc32c50a193cbf90f266c177f351a2676681ed6d65b387f15f3c0110e4aee7fe&amp;width=1280&amp;quality=90 1280w\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/TESOS3MBN5FY3OYKTYF6SCZHJA.jpg?auth=bc32c50a193cbf90f266c177f351a2676681ed6d65b387f15f3c0110e4aee7fe&amp;width=500&amp;quality=90\" sizes=\"auto, 50vw\" alt=\"Boston Red Sox bullpen leads league in blown saves despite closer being 4-for-4\" width=\"300\" height=\"600\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>Twins&#8217;s Harrison Bader leaps after hitting home plate ahead of a throw to Red Sox catcher Carlos Narv\u00e1ez, right, during the eighth inning.. (AP Photo\/Mark Stockwell)AP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"DPGKPAS64NCZRKDE3EGBVCZOFE\">BOSTON \u2014 The Red Sox are tied with the Phillies for the major league lead in blown saves (8).<\/p>\n<p id=\"SCFGRJYM7NFKPEHUDQPGOM6ZBM\">But it\u2019s not a closer\/ninth inning issue. Aroldis Chapman is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities.<\/p>\n<p id=\"H56VFKVNAVBYZIADMXFC6H44R4\">It\u2019s a setup man issue.<\/p>\n<p id=\"C36UGCL5EBCGBMQLVS7DBVMEIQ\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"GRTFDHGDJVHRPARIKBWBYD2MNE\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"QGPHMZYPIJAFRNSCVVNC4G4KPE\">\u201cTough week for the bullpen,\u201d manager Alex Cora said. \u201cBut they\u2019ve got good stuff. They\u2019re good pitchers. \u201dWe just have to make adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"XXQSLN6M35BQJL4VEPUL3DYIR4\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ORBLKJ5YDRE67INH2XSPIGWSTY\">\u201cWe have to make sure we execute,\u201d Cora said. \u201cThere were a lot of two-strike hits. And we\u2019ve just gotta be better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"TX6RJEWGAJEBBJZSO6RULJFL6E\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7UR7YY4WNZB3TMVXG4IV4ISDIA\">Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single to Ryan Jeffers in the seventh inning.<\/p>\n<p id=\"YPJWR4PUVFG25NLL5J6YZE4DAI\">\u201cIf you look at the pitch to Jeffers, it was right down the middle,\u201d Cora said. \u201cHe hung an offspeed pitch in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"AR3VMZMMK5HRVMBXFTZMHZ5OAM\">Whitlock added, \u201cMy stuff was good today besides the hanging slider.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"6F3434YMYRABHOHHFS6DAB7A3Q\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"QV3525OLG5HM7MG54FRCBPLW2U\">\u201cThe fastball to Bader was up in the zone. He was hunting. He got it and put a good swing on it,\u201d Cora said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"RHPTYRWNGBDY3LYSEIXKTG7CHI\">The RBI single he allowed to Trevor Larnach that made it 5-3 came on a 1-2 curveball.<\/p>\n<p id=\"IMEL5ZDVURHJPAESQ3CSAN52ZY\">Slaten said he has had \u201creally good stuff\u201d the past three outings despite a blown save and two losses.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2MZQ5TUITRFRJKIWINBAM45KA4\">\u201cGetting ahead of guys, getting the swing and miss but it\u2019s not happening in two-strike counts when it matters the most and that\u2019s the most frustrating part,\u201d Slaten said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m shooting myself in the foot. I get to those positions and I\u2019m not executing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"SNEQZLJO6JDGFOP3JDZ5SYUN6A\">Whitlock pitched a scoreless sixth inning before running into trouble in the seventh. He gave up a leadoff walk to Bader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ZLDU4C2UXNAINPEVNUSSBSC3WE\">\u201cA walk and two singles,\u201d Whitlock said. \u201cThe first inning was really good and then a leadoff walk and two singles scored two runs.\u201d<\/p>\n<section>\n<ul data-testid=\"list\">\n<li>Boston Red Sox 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect strikes out 12 of 18 batters<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox ace\u2019s eventful day included first-pitch HR, liner to nose and velocity drop<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox reactions: Bullpen blows another lead, Boston falls to .500<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox\u2019 Triston Casas has knee surgery less than 48 hours after season-ending injury<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox\u2019 Walker Buehler explains why going on IL (shoulder) is \u2018embarrassing in some ways\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Red Sox are tied with the Phillies for the league lead in blown saves (8). 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