Critics wondered whether Brandon Lyon would make a good closer.
As the closer, he's been fine. It's the non-save situations that have really been giving him trouble. Lyon came into Tuesday night's ninth inning with a four-run lead, coughed up three runs while registering just one out, and had to hold his breath as Tony Pena came on to escape the jam and preserve the victory.
In save situations this year, Lyon's ERA is 3.86, and he's converted 25 of 30 chances. In non-save situations, his ERA is 5.68. Since the All-Star break, Lyon has given up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in non-save situations.
"There have been a few that have popped up, and that's something I'm going to have to take a look at," manager Bob Melvin said.
Lyon said he treated Tuesday night's game the same as a save situation.
"There's a little bit of a difference (between save and non-save situations)," Lyon said. "With a four-run lead like (Tuesday) night, I still had the adrenalin going. When you come out in a game where it's kind of a blowout game and you give up three or four runs, it's not going to matter. When your team's winning and it's still a close game like that, you still get the adrenalin coming out there."
Lyon said he was being too one-dimensional with his fastball, something Melvin had concerns with as well. Lyon is a unique closer in that he has a four-pitch arsenal.
"Some of it, for me, has been pitch selection," Melvin said. "I think he's cut back on his repertoire a little bit, more fastball, curve, hasn't thrown as many changeups and cutter-sliders as he has in the past. That has been addressed, and we still have confidence in him."
On July 18, Lyon's ERA was 2.37. In the past month he's been hit hard, and now he's 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA, the second-highest earned run average on the active roster.
Lyon is allowing hitters to bat .291 against him, also second-worst among the club's active pitchers.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, PADRES 6: The Diamondbacks erased a four-run first-inning deficit, battering Jake Peavy for six runs (five earned) in five innings. Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer, his second round-tripper in as many days. Diamondbacks starter Dan Haren gave up five earned runs in six innings but still picked up the win.
