The save rule covers a wide range of scenarios, and one Cubs pitcher got a taste of those extremes in recent days.
When Jordan Wicks entered Sunday’s game in the bottom of the 10th inning, he inherited a bases-loaded situation from Ethan Roberts with nobody out and the Cubs leading the Brewers, 4-2. Milwaukee further trimmed Chicago’s lead when Wicks walked in a run, but the left-hander got Jake Bauers to foul out before Gary Sánchez grounded into a game-ending double play.
With that, the Cubs won, 4-3, and Wicks was credited with the second save of his Major League career. He notched his third three days later under decidedly different circumstances.
Wicks came into Wednesday’s game against the Padres to start the top of the seventh inning with the Cubs up, 15-2. Chicago would tack on eight more runs in the bottom of the eighth before Wicks finished off San Diego in the top of the ninth inning, closing out the Cubs’ 23-3 win.
While the majority of saves come in tight games, a pitcher can also be credited with one if he enters a game with his team ahead and preserves the lead while throwing the final three innings -- regardless of the score.
Wicks did just that, and thus was credited with his second save in as many appearances -- and just the fourth awarded in a win of 20 or more runs since saves became official in 1969. The second one was just a tad less stressful than the first.