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Closing Time: Ace’d out — Alfredo Aceves blows save in return as Angels walk off past Red Sox 08.29.12 at 1:29 am ET
By Alex Speier

The Angels were celebrating a win after Alfredo Aceves blew another save Tuesday night. (AP)

Alfredo Aceves returned from his three-game suspension, but he submitted results that were dismally familiar. The right-hander, entrusted with a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth, blitzed through his first inning of work but then allowed a pair of runs in the ninth as the Angels claimed a 6-5 walkoff win.

Aceves fell to 2-9 on the year and suffered through his eighth blown save, tied for the most in the majors. He has a 4.76 ERA. The blown save was the second in as many outings for the 29-year-old, who also permitted five runs on six hits in two innings in his prior appearance last Thursday — the one that preceded his sitting while Andrew Bailey was brought in for a save on Friday, prompting Aceves’ angry reaction that led to a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

On Tuesday, his only conduct detrimental to the team occurred in the ninth inning, when he hit a batter’s foot, issued a walk, gave up a broken-bat single up the middle by Mike Trout and then allowed a walkoff sacrifice fly by Torii Hunter.

The Sox fell to 62-68.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE RED SOX

• Aceves suffered his third blown save in August, a month in which he has a 10.32 ERA.

• Jose Iglesias, in his first start of the season, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and, after failing to execute a sacrifice bunt attempt, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

• Scott Podsednik, who carried a seven-game hitting streak into the game, went 0-for-4. Still, he continues to lead all big leaguers with at least 100 plate appearances with a .362 average.

• Ryan Kalish, in his first start since his latest recall on Monday, went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. He grounded into a bases-loaded double play that scored a run but also gave Angels starter Jared Weaver the needed breathing room to limit the damage in a three-run fourth inning. Kalish also was fooled by a fly ball off the end of the bat of Trout, allowing it to drop for a single — a misplay that he compounded by overrunning the ball for an error that allowed the speedy Angels leadoff hitter to advance to second. He did line a single through the left side of the infield in his last at-bat, however.

• Trout remained a thorn in the Sox’ side, crushing a long homer to left-center to lead off the game, adding two singles (including one of the game-tying variety) and making a terrific diving catch of a sinking Pedro Ciriaco liner in center field.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE RED SOX

• For the sixth straight game, Jacoby Ellsbury had multiple hits while scoring a run — matching the longest such streak in the majors this year. In fact, Ellsbury is the only Red Sox to have such a streak in the last five years — he accomplished it last July, and now has repeated the feat this season. His 2-for-4 night gave him a season-high eight-game hitting streak in which he’s hitting .405/.421/.568/.989. He also stole a base, his 10th of the year. This is the first extended stretch of 2012 in which he has resembled the game-changing star of a year ago.

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, serving as designated hitter, jumpstarted the Red Sox offense with a solo homer in the top of the second off of Jered Weaver, and later added an RBI single. His 2-for-4 night resulted in his first game with multiple RBI hits since May 31.

• Ryan Lavarnway made a couple of impressive defensive plays. First, he blocked a couple of pitches in the dirt with runners on third in the sixth inning to preserve the Sox’ one-run lead. Then, with Trout on second base, Lavarnway leapt out of his crouch to make a diving catch of a sacrifice bunt attempt by Hunter for the second out of the inning. He also went 1-for-2 with a double off the fence in right-center, a walk and a deep sac fly in the first big league game he’s played in front of friends and family in his native Southern California.

• Pedro Ciriaco went 1-for-3 with a steal, giving him 10 steals in as many attempts.

• It wasn’t the most elegant of outings for Clay Buchholz, but the right-hander once again demonstrated an ability to work into games that has become a defining element of his midseason surge. For the seventh time in his last eight outings, Buchholz pitched seven or more innings, allowing four runs on six hits (including two solo homers) while walking three and striking out five. Though he was saddled with a no-decision, since May 27 Buchholz is 7-2 with a 2.89 ERA, bringing him to 11-4 with a 4.50 ERA for the year — fairly remarkable numbers given that, through six starts, he had a major league-worst 9.09 ERA.

Read More: alfredo aceves, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Trout Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Jaime29

    Gee, just what every team needs, a closer with 9 losses, 8 blown saves and a 4.76 ERA. Theyhave to be kidding. Remind me again why Papelbon is in Philly.

  • Jaime29

    Gee, just what every team needs, a closer with 9 losses, 8 blown saves and a 4.76 ERA. Theyhave to be kidding. Remind me again why Papelbon is in Philly.

  • Jaime29

    Gee, just what every team needs, a closer with 9 losses, 8 blown saves and a 4.76 ERA. Theyhave to be kidding. Remind me again why Papelbon is in Philly.

  • Ozzie65

    Money

  • Ozzie65

    Money

  • Ozzie65

    Money

  • JimDaytona

    It appears thet Valentine put his fear of Aceves ahead of the good of the team.

  • JimDaytona

    It appears thet Valentine put his fear of Aceves ahead of the good of the team.

  • JimDaytona

    It appears thet Valentine put his fear of Aceves ahead of the good of the team.

  • You Big Dummy

    Because he is!

  • Anonymous

    Where are all the Papelbon haters now?

    The ones that said “Just get rid of him, we can find a new closah, no PRAHHHBLUM!”

  • fansince1960

    We dumped better players, it’s time to get rid of Mr Aceves.

  • Snpyjp

    I think the Sox should consider trying Middlebrooks at first base and Ciriaco at third.  The move from third base to first worked successfully for Youkilis and others.  

  • markfromlynn

    Couldn’t agree more. Middlebrooks looks a little stiff at third and has great size to play 1B at 6’4″. Ciriaco has great range to his left and should only get better going to his backhand with more experience.

    On another note,maybe we can offer Aceves to the Jays as compensation for Farrell being let out of his contract? Aceves has worn out his welcome here and could get a chance to start in Toronto.

    Lastly,Iglesias should play every game the rest of the season. Last night illustrated how far behind he is. What better way to have him improve than by facing MLB pitching for the next month? Even if he struggles it will give him a foundation for the off-season.

  • WHO CARES

    Aceves looked great in the 8th,then in the 9th he fell apart. He should be the first pitcher out of the BP.

  • Anonymous

    Another night another loss. Went to bed after Saltalamacchia’s HR and got the bad news in the AM. Hate west coast night games. In my opinion Aceves should NEVER be used as closer for more than ONE inning. Lavarnway’s defensive skills should get him the starting job the rest of the way. If Salty could learn the strike zone he might make a good DH or IB-man. I hate those strikeouts when he swings at stuff way out of the zone. This season from hell is NOT Bobby Valentine’s fault. 

  • Sidvee96

    aceves should have been cut last week when he acted like a a-hole.who wants a choker for a closer

  • Skotch

    Are you serious Eric Mangini? Ravens borrowed the Patriots strategy? Oh… so that’s why the Patriots lost. WRONG! Can’t you just give the Ravens credit for a great victory? Even though you seem to have a man-crush on Tom Brady, you shouldn’t take that away from the Ravens. You sounded so one sided, it was ridiculous….like a poor sport making excuses. I’m sure Ravens fans loved to hear you too. You know, I don’t hear your poor sportsmanship like jargon when it comes to excuses why Brady beat the Raiders to get to the Superbowl years back. You know which game I’m talking about. “TUCK RULE.” Nope, it is just another great win for Brady. Besides, you yourself said there were strategies, in this case, unfair (to you), that the Patriots employed. Given that these were past strategies used by Patriots, and of coarse they don’t do this now, LOL, (SPY GATE), what in your right mind thinks they played an absolutely above board game themselves? You must have seen this game on tv,right? I did, a couple times. If anything the Patriots were definitely guilty of you own excuses. Tv showed a segment of Raven receivers being held at the line. The commentator mentioned that the Ravens

  • Skotch

    Type your comment here.q

  • Skotch

    About Mangini’s comments about “loose officiating” on the Ravens/Patriots game:  He says there were strategies borrowed from the “OLD” Patriot’s playbook by the Ravens. It makes me think of what tactics they have been using in their “NEW” playbook that keeps Brady from being pressured and sacked (allowing him to throw flat-footed, in a perfect, gigantic cushion unlike most other teams) time after time, game after game. I have been a fan of football for over forty years now and I have never ever seen anything like it. I have never seen wide receivers be so wide open, over and over again. Brady is so confident that he won’t be touched that he mocks the other team by standing in the same position, both feet firmly planted on the ground, in the pocket looking like a freakin’ statue for crying out loud. It really makes the other team look silly. Which brings me to ask why?  Why so much time? It’s sure NOT Brady’s scrambling ability. Can you say” HOLDING” folks? Look closely and you will see for yourself. Fortunately Patriot fans don’t have to hear a poor sport whining to America about that ’cause I’m not going to be a commentator on ESPN anytime soon. But wow dude, I can make up some excuses or accusations too but I certainly do not like to hear them coming from a guy that is backing a team that is notorious for using those same tactics, (admitted by Mangini himself) to justify losing a game by down playing the Ravens earned victory on national TV. And I don’t feel sorry for you that the Patriots lost. I ran out of excuses years ago when my then LA Rams lost Four NFC championships all by real bad calls, real bad luck, dirty play, crooked ref.’s, muddy field, drop the ball, hurt players..bla bla bla, but guess what? The LA Rams/ Anaheim Rams still DID NOT win a Superbowl. Patriot fans can’t say that. They are lucky!

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