When Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine suspended Alfredo Aceves last week, it was because he threw a hissy fit after being passed over for Andrew Bailey in a save situation. So with Aceves returning from suspension last night, we still didn’t have a clue as to whether or not he’d be given another chance or if Bailey, the man they acquired for the closer’s role this season before an injury ruined that, would be the closer going forward.
Well, Aceves was given the opportunity to close out last night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and like the last time he pitched, the results were the same. He blew the lead and the game giving the Angels a 6-5 walkoff win over the visiting nine from Boston.
Given a 5-4 lead to hold on to, this is how his 9th inning went last night.
- Retired leadoff hitter Maicer Izturis
- hit Erick Aybar with a pitch
- Aybar steals second before a walk to pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo
- Mike Trout singles to bring in Aybar with Callaspo going to third base
- Torii Hunter hits sac fly setting off a frenzy on the field in Anaheim
That folks is the anatomy of a blown save.
I’d have to think going forward as the Red Sox play out the rest of the 2012 season that Bailey gets all the save chances going forward. After all, that’s why they gave up Josh Reddick, Miles Head and Raul Alcantara.
Clay Buchholz started this one last night for the Red Sox and wasn’t great. He wasn’t bad either. If we were take one thing from his start, it’s the fact that he was able to go seven innings. Since returning from the disabled list on July 14th, he’s gone at least seven innings in seven of his nine starts. The only two he hasn’t gone that far were his first start back and last start against the Angels.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was a big part of the Red Sox offense on Tuesday night as he knocked in two runs. The first one came on a solo home run in the 2nd and an RBI single in the 4th. James Loney, back on the west coast three days after the big trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, knocked in his third run with a single in the 4th as well.
Jacoby Ellsbury added two hits last night and his 10th stolen base of the season as he hit out of the three spot in the lineup. It remains to be seen whether or not Ellsbury is part of the plans for next season though.
He’ll be in his final arbitration year and with Scott Boras as his agent, you know he’ll be getting a big pay day. Whether the Red Sox want to give it to him remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain, we know they have the money to do it.
It wouldn’t surprise me to hear his name come up in trade rumors over the offseason. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox don’t move him and milk every ounce of baseball out of him next year and at the very least come away with compensation draft picks if he decides to leave.
I think in the end, no matter if Boras is his agent, that it comes down to whether or not Ellsbury wants to play in Boston for the long run or does he want to Chase Greener pastures.
Whatever the case may be, he needs to stay healthy. Given how much time he missed this year, it would also be nice to see him finish out the season on a strong note.
And it appears he’s on that course.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take a look at the overnight links from the media.
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A mix of relief and reality [boston globe]
Loney free, easy [boston globe]
Morales to DL; Stewart gets a start [boston globe]
Alfredo Aceves melts again [boston herald]
Despite loss, Sox still playing to win [boston herald]
Red Sox no match for Mike Trout [boston herald]
Josh Beckett explains how (and why) he found himself leaving Boston [rob bradford – weei.com]
Aceves blows save in return as Sox lose to Angels, 6-5 [csn new england]
Valentine: Aceves’ extra work due to lack of options [csn new england]
Iglesias makes first start of season for Sox [csn new england]
Rapid reaction: Angels 6, Red Sox 5 [espn boston]
Closing Time: Ace’d out — Alfredo Aceves blows save in return as Angels walk off past Red Sox [full count]
Mazz’s Top 5 most detestable Red Sox teams [tony massarotti – boston globe]
Next Red Sox manager needs to command respect [tony massarotti – boston globe]
Bobby Valentine, Red Sox Look for Positives in Bizarre, Frustrating Ride of Season [nesn.com]
Aceves reinstated, but appears to lose closer’s role [redsox.com]
Shoulder inflammation lands Morales on DL [redsox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the LA Daily News, LA Times and Orange County Register websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother Monkey With a Halo.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: ap photo
