Long balls send Bailey to the Hot Seat; Tommy Hunter pitching well in Baltimore

June 19, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Felix Doubront pitched beautifully through eight innings (including retiring the last 17 men in a row), and John Farrell brought in Andrew Bailey for the ninth. Two pitches later, the game was tied, courtesy of the third home run allowed by Bailey in four games. A Jonny Gomes walk-off in the bottom of the ninth eased the pain, but after the game, Farrell admitted that Bailey is on thin ice: “He’s our closer, but there’s work to do.” Andrew Bailey to Hot Seat.

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Baltimore Orioles — Tuesday night marked the third straight eighth-inning appearance for Tommy Hunter; in two of those games, Buck Showalter used Darren O’Day earlier, including with a four-run lead in the 6th on Tuesday. Both men are pitching very well, but Hunter has nosed ahead. Hierarchy change: Tommy Hunter to Set-up, Darren O’Day to 2nd in line.

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Seattle Mariners — After Eric Wedge used Oliver Perez with a one-run lead in the 7th inning, Tom Wilhelmsen came out for the eighth and immediately surrendered a tying home run to Albert Pujols. When the M’s took the lead back in the top of the 10th, Wedge was able to stick to his original plan of using Yoervis Medina to get the save. No hierarchy change.

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit could get a save anytime Jim Leyland prefers him to Jose Valverde in a matchup.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – Ron Roenicke has promised to give K-Rod the chance to reach 300 career saves, and he’s still stuck at 298.
3. Carter Capps, Seattle Mariners — Anything can happen in the Seattle bullpen these days.