Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell never formally named a closer all season, eschewing the title because he's willing to use several relievers in the ninth inning of games.
Heath Hembree, however, has been the closest thing the Reds had to a closer in the past month. He's pitched in the ninth inning in 15 of his last 16 relief appearances, earning seven of his eight saves in that stretch.
After Hembree surrendered a three-run homer to Jorge Polanco with one out in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday in a 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Great American Ball Park, he may have lost his grip on the ninth inning and the unofficial closer role.