BOSTON — The Red Sox already had blown one lead, but Craig Kimbrel wasn’t about to let them blow another.
The Red Sox closer entered in the ninth inning Wednesday at Fenway Park with his club clinging to a two-run advantage over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was a big spot for Kimbrel, as Boston had just scored two runs in the eighth inning after Junichi Tazawa allowed the Rays to tie the score in the top of the frame.
Once again, Kimbrel delivered, retiring Tampa in order on 10 pitches to pick up his 24th save of the season and preserve an 8-6 victory.
The All-Star closer has been lights out since returning from the disabled list Aug. 1, allowing just one run on four hits over 10 innings pitched while striking out 18. He hasn’t blown a save since May 28.
Unfortunately, Kimbrel’s effectiveness only highlights the Red Sox’s glaring need for a solid setup man.
On Tuesday, it was Clay Buchholz who surrendered the go-ahead run in the eighth. On Wednesday, it was a combination of Fernando Abad and Tazawa, with Abad loading the bases on a hit and two walks and Tazawa surrendering a two-out, two-RBI single to Logan Forsythe that tied the score at 6-6.
With reliever Brad Ziegler unavailable due to a bout with the flu, manager John Farrell was asked if he considered bringing Kimbrel on in the eighth to attempt a four-out save.
“No,” Farrell said. “After he had an inning of work (Tuesday), because had not pitched in six days (before that), (I) was not going with a quick turnaround and look to get four outs from him.”
Indeed, Kimbrel threw 22 pitches in Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss. But while Farrell said he decided pregame not to pitch his closer more than an inning, Kimbrel admitted he was ready to go if the team needed him.
“If I have to come in the eighth inning and help somebody out, that’s happened to me many times this year,” Kimbrel said after the game, via WEEI.com. “… If I need to come in in the eighth, I’ll be ready in the eighth.”
That didn’t happen, though, and the result was another eventful ride on the Red Sox’s roller coaster bullpen.
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Let’s hit a few other notes from Red Sox-Rays:
— Steven Wright struggled yet again in his second start back from the disabled list, allowing four runs in just four innings of work while surrendering two home runs. Farrell suggested after the game that Wright still is dealing with physical issues after missing three full weeks with a right shoulder injury.
“He’s still working through some timing things,” Farrell said. “I can’t say that what he was dealing with prior is not affecting him at some level. To keep him from pitching, that’s not there. … (But) he wasn’t able to create a consistent, violent action to his knuckleball.”
— Mookie Betts helped Wright in the field with what might be the underrated play of the game.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Betts caught Kevin Kiermaier trying to stretch a single to a double with a great throw to Xander Bogaerts at second base. Bogaerts made the tag before Tim Beckham scored from second base, taking a Rays run off the board.
Boston trailed 4-1 at the time, but the saved run proved very useful after Hanley Ramirez’s go-ahead grand slam one inning later.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an RBI double and two runs scored. The Red Sox center fielder had been mired in a pretty brutal slump entering Wednesday, a fact that wasn’t lost on him when he was asked if he made any adjustments to turn things around.
“Yeah, I made contact today,” Bradley said. “That’s the biggest one. It’s amazing what can happen once you actually touch the ball.”
— There’s been plenty of buzz about Yoan Moncada potentially joining the Red Sox’s big league club, but the 21-year-old infielder will be one of many Boston prospects represented in the Arizona Fall League.
Moncada will join pitchers Michael Kopech, Trey Ball, Jalen Beeks and Jamie Callahan and infielders Mauricio Dubon and Danny Mars as the seven Red Sox prospects on the Surprise Saguaros.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images