• Things were going well in the last month for John Axford, who had saved 15 consecutive games dating back to August 21st, until tonight when Todd Frazier smacked a two-out homerun in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Reds even at 1-1 with the Brewers. Frazier’s long ball was the beginning of the end for Axford and the Crew on Thursday — a subsequent Jay Bruce single and a Dioner Navarro triple resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Reds. The Brewers walked off the field with their heads down knowing their playoff chances may have snuck past them tonight, and no one feels worse than the Brewers’ closer. Axford has now blown nine of his 42 save chances on the year to go with a 4.88 ERA (1.46 WHIP).
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• Mets reliever Frank Francisco will likely miss the remainder of the 2012 season after experiencing a setback from elbow tendinitis this past weekend. Manager Terry Collins indicated that since Francisco hasn’t pitched in nine days, he’d need to get some side work in before getting back into live action, but with just eight games remaining, “he’s not sure when that would take place.” The Mets closer saved 23-of-26 games with a 5.53 ERA (4.10 xFIP) and a 2.24 K/BB – his lowest since 2007 when he sported a 1.77 K/BB.
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• Jason Motte took to the bump tonight for the third night in-a-row — and fifth straight game for the Cardinals, dating back to September 15th. Motte surrendered an infield single to Matt Dominguez, but struck out the Astros in the ninth en route to his 38th save in 45 chances this year. The former 19th round pick sports a 2.94 ERA (0.95 WHIP) on the year, with a 5.64 K/BB — and his 38th save is tops in the National League.
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• Tyler Clippard closed the door on the Dodgers in the first half of a double-dipper this afternoon, earning his 32nd save in 35 chances this season. Clippard gave up a one-out hit to Mark Ellis, but needed just 14 pitches to induce three fly ball outs in the ninth to seal the deal. Davey Johnson called Clippard to the hill again in the second half of the double header — but gave up a lead-off moonshot to Matt Kemp — and took the loss, his fifth on the year.
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• Sean Burnett entered in the ninth-inning of the Nationals’ contest last evening versus the Metropolitans with a save on the line. The lefty yielded two hits in two-thirds of an inning before Davey Johnson asked right-hander, and former closer, Drew Storen to get the last out with runners on first and third. Storen did just that — inducing a David Murphy fly ball out to center field to earn his second save of the season.

Despite the save from Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard’s job as closer should remain secure in the nation’s capital for the remainder of 2012. Clippard has experienced some recent hiccups — allowing five earned runs in his last five outings — but his absence may have simply been a case of the Nationals getting the “goggled one” some rest after he made appearances in four of the previous five nights. On the season, Clippard is 31-of-34 in save opportunities with a 3.18 ERA (4.03 xFIP) and a 2.89 K/BB.
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• Tom Wilhelmsen needed 19 pitches in Toronto to earn his 26th save of 2012. Wilhelmsen surrendered a walk, but fanned two and induced a fly ball to lock down his seventh consecutive save. The Mariners ninth-inning man is now 4-3 on the year with 26 saves, a 2.50 ERA (1.14 WHIP) and a 2.33 K/BB. Wilhelmsen’s save tally is good enough for 12th-best season in club history, which is a huge accomplishment considering he didn’t take over the role until June 4th — 59 games into the season.
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• Huston Street experienced a setback during his attempt to “ramp up” the recovery process during his recent trip to the disabled list for a strained left calf. The Padres’ closer, who recently signed a $14-million, two-year extension, initially hit the DL on August 11th with the calf strain. After a bullpen session on Tuesday, manager Bud Black indicated Street “felt great throwing and his delivery is fine.” The manager’s main concern was whether “Street could field his position” or not. As Colin also noted, there is no current timetable for the All-Star’s return. Street is 21-for-21 in save opportunities this season with a 0.75 ERA (2.30 xFIP) with a career high 35.7% K%. Street’s two trips to the disabled list have caused him to miss more than 50 games thus far in 2012.

In his absence, manager Bud Black asked Luke Gregerson, and to a lesser extent, Tom Layne to close out games depending on match-ups.
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• John Axford won an 11-pitch duel with Rob Brantly by inducing a fly ball to left field for the third out in the ninth-inning and the 8-5 victory for the Crew over the Marlins. The save was Axford’s seventh consecutive successful conversion and 25th in 33 chances this season.
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• Casey Janssen blew his third save of the year on Monday, surrendering a lead-off 361-foot long ball to the Captain, Derek Jeter, in the bottom of the ninth frame to send the contest to extras. But the Blue Jays’ closer bounced back tonight, and retired the Yankees in order to earn his 17th save of the season. Janssen has now saved 17-of-20 with a 2.31 ERA and a 6.6 K/BB. Of relievers who have dished a minimum of 50 innings this season, only Wilton Lopez of the Astros has allowed fewer free passes (5) than Janssen’s eight. Somehow he’s still not spoken for in 36 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
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• After quittin’ time on Wednesday, Aroldis Chapman saved his 23rd consecutive game — tying a franchise record held by John Franco (1988) and Rob Dibble (1991) — to up his successful save tally to 31 on the year. Chapman continues to make his case for Cy Young consideration, as he now holds a 1.31 ERA and a 16.26 K/9 (7.47 K/BB) while holding opposing batters to a .138 average.
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