Mark Melancon Buoyed by First Save of Season After Rocky Start With Red Sox

by abournenesn

Aug 27, 2012


Mark Melancon
hadn't had a save opportunity in five months.

On April 8, Melancon was an option to fill the ninth-inning void, but he imploded against the Tigers and allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning. He was demoted to Triple-A soon after to fix his mechanics.

That's what made Sunday's save in the Red Sox' 8-6 win over the Royals so sweet. With Alfredo Aceves and Andrew Bailey unavailable, Melancon was thrown
into the closer's role and shut the door without any issues.

"I can't even explain that feeling," Melancon said. "It’s so much fun. It shouldn’t be different, and in reality, it's not. It's just another inning. Because of the emphasis that's put on it, I think there is a different feeling. With that said, you've still got to get three outs whether it's the seventh, eighth or ninth."

The save was Melancon's first of the season. Melancon has said he missed closing and the adrenaline rush it brings, especially in the American League.

But now, deep into his first season in Boston, Melancon said he is more
used to the environment and the people around him — and that's made a
difference.

"I think everybody has a little better feel just because five months under their belt, getting to know the catchers, the teammates, coaches," Melancon said. "Just five months more experience."

Experience in closing the door.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais () or send it here (). He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

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