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Posts tagged as “Brad Hand”

5-Run Saves

August 15, 2025

Since 1975, to record save a pitcher must do one of the following:

  • Enter the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitch at least one inning.
  • Enter the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle, at the plate or on the bases.
  • Pitch at least three innings

Based on the second parameter, if a pitcher enters the game in the 9th inning, the largest possible lead a team can have leading to a save is five runs (bases loaded).

Last night, became the eighth pitcher in team history to record a save in a 5-run victory (excluding those that did so under the three-inning rule).

Here’s the list (* indicates those who faced only one batter):

Smith is also fourth to do so while facing only one batter and the third to do so after entering the game with two outs (the most low-leverage save situation possible – Lilliquist and Farr are the other two).

Prior to saves becoming an official state, also recorded a save after entering with two outs, bases loaded with a five-run lead against the Nationals in 1948.

Throughout all of team history the five-run save with one or fewer innings pitched situation has occurred 31 times. However, if you search Baseball-Reference for saves in which a team led by five or more runs you’ll see a much longer list.

From 1969-74, saves could be awarded at the discretion of the official scorer. And saves have (unofficially) been retroactively awarded to pitchers under that definition as well.

Most of those official scorer decisions make no sense at all.

For example, in 1971, was awarded a save for pitching the ninth inning of a 10-2 Cleveland victory at Boston. That’s absurd.

So while official records may disagree, I’m going to say this is the 31st time a Cleveland reliefer has recorded a save after entering in the ninth inning with a lead of five or more runs, and the fourth time is happened in the most low-leverage situation possible (entering with two outs).

One-Hitter with a Home Run

August 6, 2025

The Guardians nearly ended their 44-year no-hitter drought as came within two outs of a no-hitter before Juan Soto ended the bid with a home run.

Instead, it’s the seventh time in team history Cleveland has pitched a one-hitter with that one hit being a homer.

Lowrie’s homer off Hagadone also came with one out in the 9th.

Cade Smith Blown Save

July 29, 2025

In his first save opportunity since ‘s betting scandal broke, allowed four runs in the 9th to the Rockies.

It was the first time a Cleveland pitcher blew a save in the 9th inning or later by allowing at least four runs since 2019.

Here’s the full list dating back to 2010:

Immaculate Save

June 25, 2024

Scott Barlow pitched a perfect 9th with three strikeouts to pick up the save last night against the Orioles. We could call this an Immaculate Save (though I think it should be called a Kimbrel, as Craig is the all-time leader by a wide margin with 36).

It was the 30th Immaculate Save (striking out every batter in a save of at least three outs) in franchise history.

and are the franchise leaders with four apiece.

The most impressive Immaculate Save in team history belongs to . He’s the only one in franchise history to strikeout all four batters he faced in save doing so against Boston, striking out, in order: Fred Lynn, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice and Bobby Darwin.

Give up a grand slam and not record an out

June 17, 2024

Nick Sandlin gave up a grand slam to the Blue Jays’ Dalton Varsho yesterday and was removed from the game before recording an out.

He’s the 12th pitcher in franchise history to give up a grand slam without recording an out. The others:

Latman and Barker were the only ones to do so as a starting pitcher. Latman and Shaw were the only ones to give up multiple home runs in the game.

Lilliquist (vs Detroit’s Lou Whitaker) and Shuey (vs Anaheim’s Tim Salmon) gave up walk-off grand slams.