Chase

Shugart

The Red Sox are figuring out how they are going to close games with Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on the IL. Chris Martin was used in a tie game in the ninth inning and so Zach Penrod started the 10th inning by allowing a double to score the place runner. He then got a fly out but walked the next batter, so Alex Cora called on Shugart, who was just called up from Triple-A on Monday. The 27-year-old got a fly out, then walked two batters to walk in a run before getting a pop-out to end the game. We’d be shocked if he earned another save this season, but he has one MLB save in his career now and that’s pretty cool.

It’s Shugart’s third stint with the Red Sox. He allowed four runs over six innings of relief work in the previous two.

Shugart gave up three runs in 1 1/3 innings last night, turning the game against the White Sox into a tight one. The Red Sox won anyway, but Shugart loses his spot for now.

Shugert made his major league debut last month and allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings in his lone appearance. He had a 4.55 ERA in 65 1/3 innings for Worcester this year.

The reason for the decision to promote Valdez instead of Vaughn Grissom is due to the fact that Grissom needs every day at-bats so they don’t want him playing sporadically at the big-league level. Valdez has hit .224/.282/.400 with six homers and 27 RBI in 170 at-bats with the Red Sox this season.

The Red Sox needed to clear a roster spot for the return of Cooper Criswell (COVID-19) on Friday and it looks like Shugart was the odd man out this time around. The 27-year-old hurler made just one appearance with the Red Sox, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 2/0 K/BB ratio in 2 2/3 innings.

After six years in the Red Sox system, Shugert is in the majors for the first time. The University of Texas product had a 4.98 ERA and a 71/29 K/BB ratio in 59 2/3 innings while starting five times and relieving 23 times for Worcester. He’ll pitch in middle relief.