The Phillies closers this season have included Jeanmar Gomez, Joaquin Benoit and Hector Neris. Going forward the Phillies are going to go with closer number four. Citing the need to get Neris to settle down some, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said prior to Wednesday's game in Atlanta that the Phillies will turn to Pat Neshek to close games.
As ESPN.com notes, Neris has an earned run average of 5.79 when pitching in the ninth inning. The sample size for Neris in the ninth is rather small, however, since the Phillies had very few save opportunities in the month of May. Neris appeared in only one save opportunity in May and had a 0.77 earned run average in his eleven appearances.
The only blown save for Neris occurred on April 29, when he infamously gave up home runs to back-to-back-to-back hitters to blow a three-run lead. However, Neris was rescued by Gomez on Saturday and then Neshek on Tuesday.
Neshek has been very effective for the Phillies, allowing just two earned runs all season thus far. The two runs scored on a home run by Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor, who hit a ball that just happened to hit the foul pole in Washington. Neshek took the loss, accounting for the runs in his small 0.84 earned run average.
Neshek has just eight career saves, including Tuesday. However, Neshek has an All-Star appearance as a set-up man for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. Neshek has never started a game since breaking into the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 2006.
