NEW YORK -- After two poor outings in his past three save opportunities, Junichi Tazawa is out as the Red Sox closer and Jean Machi is in.
Interim manager Torey Lovullo made the announcement Sunday.
Tazawa allowed four runs last Sunday in blowing a save opportunity against Kansas City. Then, on Friday, Tazawa issued four straight walks, forcing in a run, as the Red Sox nearly blew a three-run lead in the 10th inning.
"We're going to bump him back into the eighth-inning role,'' said Lovullo. "There's a number of reasons for that. I think he just excelled in that role. He was so good in that role and we're going to get him back in that situation for right now.
"Jean will have that role. He was great in that role [Saturday]. He's pitched in big games. There's nothing bigger than World Series games, for me. So he's battle-tested. But we just have to be careful with his workload, too, so we might make some adjustments in that ninth inning depending on what the situation is with Jean. But for right now, we won't bump Taz into that ninth inning. We'll keep him in the eighth inning if Jean is unavailable."
Tazawa seemingly couldn't adapt to the ninth after being one of the game's top set-up relievers.
"I wish I could put my finger on that,'' said Lovullo. "I wish I could understand what he was thinking each time he went out on the mound. I think it's a learned response, a learned behavior. It takes time to get used to that last inning. I can't pinpoint one reason, other than there's nobody in back of you. You're the last guy standing. It's a pressure filled spot and you have to learn how to navigate that moment.
"Taz has the stuff. He can do it, no problem. But I can't give you exactly the reason why it's not as easy for him.''
Tazawa accepted the decision and told Lovullo he would do whatever he could to help the team in any role.
Beyond the change in assignments, the Sox are careful to monitor Tazawa's workload. He's been among the league leaders in appearances the past couple of years and the Sox to make sure he isn't overworked.
"I think it's been in the 70's the last couple of years and he's in somewhere in the 50's right now,'' said Lovullo. "We're going to try to hold down his workload. He's so valuable that he was pitching in games where we were behind a couple of runs, and obviously he was locking down the eighth inning when we were tied or ahead.
"What I expressed to him was we have a number of other guys who are stepping up right now and what I want to do is give you the ball in the right situation when we're ahead or tied.''