Brad Ziegler’s save streak comes to an end at 43
Jun 24, 2016, 7:36 AM
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler throws a pitch to Colorado Rockies' Trevor Story in the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 23, 2016, in Denver. The Diamondbacks won 7-6. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
It’s been awhile since the letters ‘BS’ have appeared next to the name ‘Ziegler’ in a D-backs box score.
That’s because closer Brad Ziegler had been pretty close to automatic when it came to closing out games.
But as they say, all good things come to an end.
When the Colorado Rockies’ DJ LaMahieu knocked in Daniel Descalso with a bunt single in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night to tie the game at 6-6, Ziegler’s consecutive saves streak ended at 43.
The Diamondbacks would get a run in the ninth on a Nick Ahmed RBI single that plated Jake Lamb and Ziegler pitched a 1-2-3 frame to earn the win, his second of the season.
“There’s not a lot of saves that are easy to begin with,” Ziegler told reporters after the game. “It was fun while it lasted, for sure, and hopefully we can start a new one tomorrow.”
Ziegler admitted that the end of his personal streak was tempered by a silver lining.
“At least the team wins the game,” he said. “It would feel a lot worse if we got beat. Fortunately, we’re playing pretty good ball right now and hopefully that will carry over into the weekend.”
The save opportunity certainly wasn’t the easiest Ziegler has encountered this season. Daniel Hudson, who started the eighth inning, allowed four hits as the Rockies shrunk the D-backs’ lead to 6-5. Ziegler inherited a situation in which Colorado had runners at first and third with one out. The first batter he faced, LeMahieu, laid down the bunt that scored DeScalso and evened the score.
“We were aware of it,” Ziegler said. “It was just a perfect bunt. He put it in a good spot.”
The veteran right-hander’s last blown save came May 27, 2015 in a 4-3 loss in St. Louis. The streak started in Ziegler’s very next appearance two days later in Milwaukee when he worked the ninth inning in a 7-5 win.
His streak was the longest current streak in the Majors, until Thursday. Eric Gagne holds the MLB record with 84 consecutive save conversions — a streak which spanned parts of three seasons from 2002 to 2004.
