BOSTON — Tuesday night’s game left a pretty bad tasted in Craig Kimbrel’s mouth, but he washed that out with a bit of persuasion Wednesday.
The Red Sox closer imploded in Tuesday’s 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers, allowing a season-high four runs without recording an out in a continuation of his struggles in non-save situations.
As such, it might have come as a surprise when Kimbrel trotted out in the ninth inning Wednesday in another non-save situation against Texas. But according to John Farrell, Kimbrel approached the Red Sox manager before the game and asked for a chance to put Tuesday’s rough outing behind him.
“We had talked before the game,” Farrell said after Boston’s 11-6 win at Fenway Park. “He was very clear — he wanted to get back out on the mound, regardless of the game score.”
Kimbrel wasn’t perfect, walking back-to-back batters with two outs, but he kept the opposition off the board, something he had failed to do in three of his last four non-save situations entering Wednesday.
“Given the off-day (Thursday), we felt like it was a good opportunity just to get him right back on the mound,” Farrell said of Kimbrel. “It’s been well-documented on the non-save situations and the performance, so the only way to rectify it, to adjust it, to change it, is to put him right back in a similar situation, with potentially a different mindset.”
It’s been an up-and-down season to date for Kimbrel, who earned his fifth career All-Star nod Tuesday. He has 17 saves in 19 chances, good for eighth in the American League, and boasts a 1.45 ERA in such situations. He’s recorded 50 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.
But the 28-year-old also has struggled with command, issuing 15 walks in 33 innings, and has allowed multiple runs in five separate appearances.
For Farrell, the key to Kimbrel’s success comes down to keeping a consistent mindset to go along with his strong pitching repertoire.
“I think it’s just more separating yourself from the scoreboard,” Farrell said. “Because he’s got such premium stuff. That was the case (Tuesday) night and the results weren’t there, so I can’t say there was an overhaul in 24 hours, delivery-wise.”
Kimbrel’s scoreless inning Wednesday should help the veteran closer get back on the right track as the All-Star break approaches. In that sense, his pregame plea to Farrell paid off.
“He made it clear he wanted to get back on the mound (Wednesday) night,” Farrell said. “With only 12 innings thrown (Tuesday) night, he was fresh, and wanted to make sure we got the opportunity to work through some things.”
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
