Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has been struggling so mightily when entering one-run games lately that some have called for his job. But he certainly calmed the critics Saturday.
Rodney entered and exited with the score 3-2 in snagging his 12th save. He struck out Danny Valencia and Chris Colabello in retiring the Blue Jays in order.
"He gets those one-run leads, I think he's a little bit more focused," manager Lloyd McClendon said to MLB.com. "Three-run lead, he's a little more relaxed. It's just the animal that most closers are. It's not just him. I've seen it with other guys, too. It gets within one or two, and they tighten down."
That ended a streak of four poor performances and five of six in which Rodney allowed at least one run to raise his ERA to a disturbing 6.61.