DENVER – Closer Brad Boxberger’s struggles on Wednesday, when he blew a save and exhibited significantly diminished velocity pitching for the third consecutive day, has manager Torey Lovullo reconsidering using him that frequently in the future.
“Maybe it was a little bit too much for him to throw three days in a row,” Lovullo said Friday.
Boxberger, 30, who dealt with arm issues last season, hasn’t been throwing particularly hard all year, but his average fastball of 86.8 mph on Wednesday was a new career low. He gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Giants pinch-hitter Alen Hanson on an 87 mph fastball that tied the game.