Mariners’ Scott Servais confident that Steve Cishek will bounce back
Jun 12, 2016, 1:36 PM
Mariners closer Steve Cishek put a fastball where he shouldn’t have Saturday night and it got pounded. Up and in was the intent. Middle in – right in Prince Fielder’s wheelhouse – is what he got instead.
Fielder’ solo home run off Cishek tied the game in the ninth. Texas won 2-1 in 11 innings.
“He’s done a good job this year pitching up to the lefties,” manager Scott Servais said. “From that slot it is a very effective pitch; it runs up in the zone. He just didn’t get that one last night where he wanted to.”
Wanting to go there in that situation most likely was not the right idea. With just one hitter left on the Rangers’ bench and Elvis Andrus coming up, Cishek could have afforded to play it safer with Fielder. He had been away with every pitch to him before and he probably could have stayed there. If Fielder had walked, there is a good chance it would have taken more than one hit to score him.
“He’s had a couple of hiccups and it does happen,” Servais said of Cishek. “Very few are perfect throughout the whole year. He’s had a couple tough ones, but he is a great makeup guy, he will bounce back today. We get in that spot, I am going to give him the ball again and I know he will go after it.”
