July 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nThe injury scare threatened to dampen the mood after a key 4-3 victory over the Dodgers that helped the Red Sox secure a series win over the National League West division leaders. The Red Sox will end the day as either the No. 2 or 3 wild-card team, depending on the result of the Seattle Mariners\u2019 game against the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n
Chapman entered on Sunday with the Red Sox clinging to a one-run lead after Alex Bregman\u2019s two-run homer in the fifth. He was set to face a key spot in the lineup, but faltered from the get-go. He walked Miguel Rojas on five pitches, the last ball coming on a pitch clock violation. Chapman\u2019s velocity was noticeably down, with his fastball averaging 94.7 mph compared to his normally electric 98.5 mph average this season, as he struggled to find the zone.<\/p>\n
The left-hander stayed in and walked Mookie Betts on five pitches before getting Shohei Ohtani to fly out, then Cora and a trainer came out to the mound to meet Chapman and catcher Carlos Narvaez. After a brief discussion, Chapman exited the game and Jordan Hicks entered to finish off the eighth, thanks to a key unassisted double play turned by Ceddanne Rafaela at second when he caught a liner and tagged second for the force out. Hicks collected his second save for the Red Sox with 1 2\/3 scoreless innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cNarvy saw it right away and the stuff was way down,\u201d Cora said.<\/p>\n
Chapman lobbied Cora to stay in the game to face Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez, but Cora didn\u2019t want to risk it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe win as a team and lose as a team,\u201d Cora said. \u201cI went to talk to Chappy and he wanted to face Teoscar, I was like, \u2018Bro, we have bigger things here, winning this game with you on the mound really doesn\u2019t matter, we\u2019ll bring Hicks in, he\u2019ll do the job.\u2019 He made a pitch and the kid (Rafaela) reacted very quick. His instincts are off the charts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapman pitched Saturday night, making 17 pitches and picking up the save in a 4-2 win.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old closer is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his 16-year career with a 1.30 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, along with a 39.1 percent strikeout rate and a career-low 7.1 percent walk rate heading into Sunday.<\/p>\n
Chapman signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal last offseason with the Red Sox. Though the Red Sox are prioritizing starting pitching and a right-handed bat at first base, Chapman\u2019s injury scare highlights the need for bullpen help as well.<\/p>\n
(Photo: Brian Fluharty \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n