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Chad Tracy Explains Aroldis Chapman Decision In Latest Red Sox Loss originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox lost 3-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, and Chad Tracy had an opportunity to use Aroldis Chapman in a crucial spot before the ninth inning.
Chapman has been used in the ninth inning of every outing but one this season, and even that outing was the final frame the Red Sox pitched in against the Minnesota Twins in April. According to MassLive's Christopher Smith, Tracy had noted that he would consider using Chapman before the eighth inning in some situations. Well, the Red Sox were in a scoreless tie going into the eighth inning on Thursday, and Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper were due up.
Chapman could have been used to get through a tough lane in the batting order and keep the game tied. However, Tracy sent out Tyler Samaniego, who gave up his first earned runs of the season and took the loss. He recorded just one out, and Tracy spoke on the decision.
“With Chappy today, we had talked like, we’re going to use him only in a save situation,” Tracy said per Smith. “The way we’ve been going offensively, it’s like, ‘Let’s get another zero. How many zeros can we put up to see if we can give ourselves a chance to lead?’ And if you’re down Chappy, the lane for Sammy is there. So just keep sending guys out where we feel like there’s good slots to give us another zero and see if we can get a lead.”
Chapman pitched on Wednesday, but working back-to-back is not an issue for him. Samaniego gave up a single to Turner and a 417-foot homer to Schwarber. The Phillies plated a third run off Zack Kelly. The Red Sox broke through and scored one run in the bottom of the inning.
Assuming Chapman gets through Turner, Schwarber and Harper with no problems, the Red Sox would have had a 1-0 lead going into the ninth, with Adolis García, Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh due up. All three are righties, so Tracy likely felt more comfortable having Chapman face the three righties than Samaniego.
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