BOSTON –– For Scott Atchison, the scoreless streak is over.
After surrendering two runs in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Orioles, the Red Sox reliever snapped his career-high 15 straight scoreless appearances. During the streak, he tossed 19 2/3 innings of spotless baseball, the longest stretch in the majors.
The sizzling streak started on April 29. But to Atchison's credit, the 36-year-old admitted that the scoreless streak had been somewhat on his mind and recognized he was eventually due for an unlucky outcome.
"You try not to," Atchison said of thinking of the streak. "I guess it's in there maybe when you're sitting around not in the game but once you get out there you're not worried about that. I've got a one-run lead I need to protect and help try to get Jon [Lester's] runner not to let him score and tonight it didn't work."
His hiccups epitomized a subpar night for the bullpen as a whole. While Atchison elevated his ERA up to 1.42, Alfredo Aceves also struggled in relief, yielding two runs and a walk in two innings of work.
Despite the blemish, Atchison isn't unfazed. The blown save –– as it was charged to the reliever –– was merely a reminder of the peaks and valleys of baseball, but Atchison still appreciated his impressive stretch.
"It's been a good run on that, you kind of notice it after awhile that it's been awhile but it's over now," Atchison said. "[Now, it's] get back out there tomorrow and try to start another one, that's the best way I think to do it and that's what I plan to do."
In 22 appearances this season, Atchison has racked up 26 strikeouts while only allowing five runs.
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