Red Sox interim manager defends bullpen move after narrow defeat to Twins
Despite the decision resulting in a 7-6 loss, the interim manager maintained the switch to Justin Slaten was a calculated risk given the team’s recent bullpen dominance.
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy has defended a controversial managerial decision that contributed to a 7-6 defeat against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Tracy removed starting pitcher Payton Tolle after six innings and 85 pitches, despite Tolle holding a 6-3 lead and having retired 11 consecutive batters. The move, which saw reliever Justin Slaten enter the game, ultimately backfired when Slaten surrendered two home runs, including a decisive blast by Byron Buxton.
Tolle’s performance was characterised by a stark contrast between efficiency and vulnerability. While he allowed three runs and four hits in a "treacherous" second inning where he faced all nine Twins hitters, he subsequently retired 14 of the final 15 batters he encountered. Entering the game, opposing hitters had managed just one hit in 21 at-bats against Tolle for the third time in a game this season, suggesting he was well-positioned to continue.
Tracy described the decision to pull Tolle as "clear cut," citing the starter’s efficiency and the strategic advantage of a rested bullpen. He noted that Tolle was throwing in the mid-80s, providing "breathing room," and that the lineup was about to turn over a fourth time. With the Red Sox bullpen, including Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman, having been "lights out" prior to the game, Tracy saw a logical path to securing the lead.
The Red Sox held a 16-2 record in games where they led after six innings entering Friday’s contest. However, the loss marked the second time this season Boston surrendered a sixth-inning lead. Slaten, who had allowed just one unearned run on four hits in his first eight innings of the season, gave up a leadoff single to Luke Keaschall before Buxton hit a no-doubter over the Green Monster. Austin Martin later added another home run to give the Twins the 7-6 advantage.
Tracy acknowledged the outcome was not what the team intended but stood by the process. He pointed out that while Tolle had done his job by getting through six innings efficiently, the availability of a fresh arm against a lineup facing its fourth trip through the order presented a manageable risk. The interim manager emphasised that the bullpen’s recent dominance made the move a calculated decision rather than a reactive one.
