All Star closer Emmanuel Clase earns first postseason Save for Cleveland Guardians in 2-1 win
Emmanuel Clase goes the extra mile in earning first postseason save for Cleveland Guardians
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When the tying run reached base for Tampa Bay in the eighth inning of Friday’s wild card series opener against the Guardians, there was little doubt where manager Terry Francona would turn.
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All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase was summoned from the bullpen to protect Cleveland’s 2-1 lead. It was the first time in 2022 Clase would be asked to get four outs for a save.
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After retiring Jose Siri on a ground ball to end the eighth, Clase took a seat in the dugout and waited for his chance to go back out and finish the job.
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Clase, who led the majors with 42 saves and tied for the most relief appearances with 77 said he was prepared for the moment, and knew that once the postseason arrived it would probably happen on more than one occasion.
“It’s a really good feeling, it’s exciting,” Clase said. “The adrenaline hits differently. But at the same time, this is what I’m prepared for and this is what I’m excited to compete against and in these tough scenarios.”
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He became the first Cleveland reliever to earn a postseason save in an outing of 1 1/3 innings or more since Cody Allen on Oct. 5, 2017. Hedges said he has no doubt Clase is built to handle extra at-bats in a postseason environment.
“He could go out and probably pitch five innings just as good,” Hedges said. “He’s a special, special guy. Anytime he has the ball in his hands, I know he’s gonna get the job done.”
Clase, who began his career as a starter, said he was not thrown off by having to get up and down between innings, and that he’s looking forward to the opportunity to pitch again if needed on Saturday.
Could he go multiple innings again?
“If they put me in, I’ve got to do it,” Clase said.
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