Pirates closer Mark Melancon wasn't exactly turning cartwheels over implications that he was losing his grip on the job after a sluggish start to the season.
He blew a two-run lead Tuesday to the Cubs, raising his earned run average to 8.53 and prompting Clint Hurdle and the media to point out that his velocity was down. But after two straight 1-2-3 saves, including one on Friday, he fought back.
"I blew one save - one save," Melancon told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Should anybody lose confidence after one save? That's for them to decide, I guess."
Melancon, whose velocity remains down, had a closed-door meeting with Hurdle in which he was told the closer job was still his.
"I try to put myself in his position," Hurdle said. "What opportunity would I hope to get, based on what I've done for the club. When (his) performance goes the other way, I don't need to be the first one to overreact."
Hurdle also expressed his belief that Melancon can remain effective despite decreased velocity.
"It's about execution and location," he said.