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Watson remains Pirates closer despite struggles

BALTIMORE — Tony Watson will remain the closer, manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday, despite Watson’s struggles in the ninth inning and the dominating performance of Felipe Rivero.

Watson allowed a two-run home run to Jonathan Schoop that allowed the Baltimore Orioles to tie the game in the ninth inning Tuesday. The Orioles won in the 10th. Watson has allowed multiple runs in four of his past nine outings.

“Fixed mindset, you change the closer and you put in Rivero,” Hurdle said. “And there’s an argument for that. The argument against that for me right now is I still believe our best bullpen sets up the way it’s been working.