The New York Yankees had their four-game winning streak snapped on Friday in a 9-6 defeat to the Boston Red Sox, in part thanks to another poor performance from star closer Aroldis Chapman.
He came into the game in the eighth inning with a one-run deficit with the goal of keeping the Yankees in the game. That didn't happen.
Chapman allowed two runs in the inning, marking the latest in a string of disappointing starts that has fans calling for him to be replaced. However, manager Joe Girardi isn't having any of that.
“You’ve got to get him right, that’s the bottom line,” Girardi said after the game. “We need him to help us in the bullpen because the other guys sometimes need days off.
“I brought him in the eighth and we were losing, so that’s not a high leverage situation, in a sense, not what he’s used to. No. I think closers a lot of times feed off adrenaline and feed off these situations but no, he’s a guy that needs to pitch in the back end and get it right.
“I think it’s location, some of it. But I’ve also said that 100 [mph] is not so rare anymore. It’s not. You’re starting to see it out of starters at times. It’s just commanding his pitches better and using them all.”
The 29-year-old tweaking his hamstring during Tuesday's win over the New York Mets, but continues to insist that he is fine physically - he's just in a rut.
“You can’t get frustrated,” Chapman said. “Obviously, the last couple of outings, they haven’t been what I want them to be. Going through a tough moment right now but you can’t get frustrated. You just gotta work hard and get out of it.
“It’s hard to pinpoint and say just one thing because I feel physically really, really good. My arm feels great. But I think it’s just a tough moment that I’m going through and eventually I’m pretty sure I’ll get out of it.”
Chapman has a 4.29 ERA with 16 saves and 50 strikeouts in 35.2 innings in 38 appearances this season. His ERA is currently on pace to be the second-highest of his career and he hasn't recorded less than 33 saves since becoming a full-time closer in 2012.
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