BOSTON — Manager Scott Servais signaled the latest tweak in his bullpen Saturday by letting lefty Mike Montgomery work the final 3 1/3 innings behind rookie Adrian Sampson in a 6-2 loss to Boston.
Montgomery is shifting back to lower-leverage situations in the middle of games rather than being spotted as a match-up lefty. Those match-up and higher-leverage situations will now switch primarily to Vidal Nuno.
“We’re giving (Montgomery) a chance to stretch out and work on some pitches,” Servais said. “That’s probably when he’s done best for us — when he goes multiple innings instead of trying to match him up.
“He gets into more of a rhythm. He pitches instead of just going out and throws. More than that, Nuno continues to do a very good job. We had him in that spot earlier on.
“Not that we tried to get away from (Nuno) for any reason. We just gave Monty some opportunities.”
Nuno inherited a 1-0 lead Sunday in the sixth inning but surrendered the tying run in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Red Sox in the series finale.
Montgomery suffered losses in three straight late-inning appearances before his outing Saturday at Fenway Park. His ERA jumped from 1.50 to 2.72 after he gave up eight runs and 14 hits over 9 2/3 innings in his last seven outings.
Even after Sunday’s hiccup, Nuno had a 1.75 ERA in 25 appearances and just four walks in 25 2/3 innings. In contrast, Montgomery has walked 15 and hit five batters in his 39 2/3 innings.
“Nuno does get righties out, too,” Servais said. “What you like with him is he’s going to always throw strikes with multiple pitches.
“That’s very valuable when you’re coming in with guys on base. Instead of just getting locked in and thinking, `OK, I’ve just got to stuff them with my fastball.’”
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