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Chapman's Wicked Splitter Dominates Guardians
24 Sep
Summary
- Chapman secured his 35th save with a 1-0 Red Sox victory.
- He used a rare, devastating splitter for all three strikeouts.
- This was the first time Chapman recorded three Ks with his splitter.
Aroldis Chapman, the Red Sox's potent closer, secured a vital 1-0 victory over the Guardians on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, notching his 35th save. Chapman demonstrated the deceptive power of his splitter, a pitch he uses sparingly, to achieve all three of his strikeouts during the inning.
The effective use of his splitter, which registered only 1,095 rpm and featured significant vertical and horizontal movement, proved too much for Guardians hitters. This marked the first game in Chapman's career where he recorded all three outs via strikeouts with his splitter, highlighting its impressive effectiveness when deployed.
Chapman's appearance was his first since September 13, having recovered from a lat issue. He continues to be a dominant force in the bullpen, boasting a 1.92 ERA with 71 strikeouts over 51 2/3 innings pitched.
