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Why Did Farrell Use Uehara In A Non-Save Situation?

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox picked up a 4-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, moving them just half-a-game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, but it looks like the W came at a cost.

Recently named closer Koji Uehara, tabbed with getting the final three outs after Craig Kimbrel landed on the DL with a knee injury two weeks ago, left after just seven pitches with a strained pectoral. He'll be reevaluated on Wednesday, but another injury in the bullpen was the last thing the Red Sox needed.

That has Marc Bertrand wondering why manager John Farrell used Uehara in a non-save situation.

"He's now in his 40s and should be protected. I don't care that it's a clean inning or you haven't used him in a few days; you have [26 games in 27 days] coming up. I didn't get it," Bertrand said Wednesday. "It was predictable that something bad was going to happen, and unfortunately it was an injury.

"Tommy Layne couldn't have come in to start the ninth?" Beetle wondered.

Red Sox blogger Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports didn't mind Farrell's move, saying the Boston manager was likely doing a little scoreboard watching at the time.

"If you're scoreboard watching, the O's are losing. You have to win that game," said Carabis. "How quickly have we seen some of these games get away? [Uehara] should be able to go out and get three outs."

Bertrand wonders if Farrell is feeling some pressure, because he managed Tuesday night's game (and many others over the last week) like a playoff game. That concerns Bertrand, who fears it may burn the team out with a big stretch ahead.

Listen to the full discussion below:

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