ANAHEIM, Calif. – Lloyd McClendon is quick to point out that he never anointed Carson Smith the new Mariners closer, nor did he say Fernando Rodney is not the closer.
While Smith has picked up five of the last six Mariners saves, it was Rodney on the hill in the ninth on Friday night. Smith had pitched the eighth and McClendon's logic for throwing him early was simple.
"I thought that was the biggest point of the game," he said. "If you lose the lead in the eighth, then the ninth means nothing. I thought it was the best chance to preserve that lead at that particular time.