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| John Axford got one out against hte Cubs on Tuesday for his 19th save of the season. (Getty Images) |
John Axford is back as the Brewers' closer, recording an out against the Cubs to earn his 19th save of the season on Tuesday.
Axford, 29, was removed as the team's closer after blowing his sixth save of the season on July 16. He'd picked up three saves since being demoted, but after Manny Parra and Jim Henderson gave up two runs in the first 2/3 of the ninth inning on Tuesday against the Cubs to make it a save situation, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke called on Axford, and it's something he expects to do for the rest of the season.
"This is a guy we would obviously like to be in that closer role," Roenicke told MLB.com. "And the reason we took him out of it is to try and do what's best for him to get back into that role. I think when he was out of it, I think he pitched well enough to allow us the confidence that we think we can put him back in there now."
Axford allowed two earned runs in his last six appearances and had a 4.85 ERA in the 14 appearances between the time he was stripped of his closer's title and Tuesday's return to the role. In that stretch, he record two saves.
"I'm not saying I'm going to do that every time," Roenicke told MLB.com. "But I think when everything matches up well, I think he'll be in there. I'm sure Henderson will have his chances, and hopefully we have a lot of chances here as the season goes on."
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