Fuentes' return turns up heat on closer

Mamba · Apr 21, 2010

ANAHEIM --

Nothing like a 400-foot bomb to take a closer controversy from simmer to full boil.

Brian Fuentes returned from the DL Wednesday and stepped back into the closer's shoes Fernando Rodney had filled so ably in his absence. The first batter Fuentes faced since Opening Night, Miguel Cabrera, hit a towering home run to deep left-center field.

Things didn't get any better for Fuentes, only less jaw-dropping. Two walks and a run-scoring single by Ramon Santiago completed the comeback (and blown save) as the Detroit Tigers snapped the Angels' five-game winning streak with a 4-3 last-bats victory.

"Obviously, that wasn't as we would like to have scripted it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll reload tomorrow."

While Fuentes was on the DL with a minor back issue, Rodney converted all five save opportunities, retiring 15 of the 16 batters he faced in those appearances. Such clean living by a closer had many second-guessing Scioscia's decision to hand the role back to Fuentes upon his return even before he actually did so – making the inevitable post-game debate after Wednesday's blown save technically 'third-guessing.'

But Scioscia really had no choice when the Angels took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning Wednesday. Both Rodney and Kevin Jepsen had pitched in four of the previous five games and five of the previous seven with the schedule offering no off day. Neither was available, and with Scot Shields struggling with control issues, Scioscia's bullpen options were so minimized he had to turn to Jason Bulger for the eighth inning after starter Jered Weaver had held the Tigers to two runs on six hits through seven innings (but through 117 pitches in the process).

As for Fuentes' status as the closer when a rested Rodney is available, Scioscia wasn't ready to say.

"We need to put the bullpen together. We didn't have all the pieces today," Scioscia said. "We can't evaluate this thing until you get Fuentes, Rodney, Jepsen and Shields all available and throwing well to see how it works. You're going to have to give us a little time."

Fuentes (who pitched one inning in a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday) fell behind Cabrera 2-and-0 before evening the count. But he couldn't put Cabrera away. The Tigers slugger fouled off three consecutive fastballs from Fuentes, took a slider low to make the count full– and then turned on an 89-mph fastball from Fuentes, sending it high into the blustery night out to the flagpoles beyond the left-center field fence.

"He's just a good hitter," Fuentes said. "There's no easy way to pitch him, no real book on how to get him out. He hits off-speed stuff so well and has good power to the opposite field. I tried to stay hard with him. Having him be the leadoff hitter (in the ninth) made it harder. I didn't want to walk him because I figured they'd just try to small-ball it (the tying run) in from there."

Two walks put the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs when Santiago dropped a soft line drive in front of left fielder Juan Rivera. Rivera charged and made a strong throw home but couldn't stop the run from scoring.

The Tigers went down quietly in their half of the ninth, finishing the night with only four hits against four Tigers pitchers. Two of those hits (including a two-run home run by Kendry Morales) came in the first inning when they scored all their runs.
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http://www.ocregister.com/sports/fuentes-245283-run-scioscia.html

Mamba · Apr 21, 2010

Fuck!!!!!!!!!!! I think every Angel fan knew Fuentes was going to blow it. Yeah, that 88 MPH fastball you threw Miggy Cabrera really is intimidating you douche bag. Thanks for ruining another stellar performance from Weaver.

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Fuentes' return turns up heat on closer

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Fuentes' return turns up heat on closer

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