SAN DIEGO (AP) — One day after blowing his fourth save this season, the Miami Marlins demoted closer Heath Bell from that role.
Manager Ozzie Guillen, who hinted at the move in recent days, said Saturday he couldn’t wait any longer for the struggling Bell to correct his problems.
“Right now, we are going through a tough time,” Guillen said. “It happens to the best of them. We are going to move him down for maybe a few days. It’s not like we are removing him from the job. … I made it very clear, it’s not a punishment.”
Bell blew his fourth save in seven opportunities Friday night when he allowed the San Diego Padres to tie the score at 8-all with a run in the ninth. Miami eventually won its fourth straight game on Omar Infante’s’ RBI double in the 12th inning.
The Marlins signed Bell to a three-year, $27-million deal in the offseason.
