The Cleveland Indians have blown 11 saves this year -- the fewest in baseball.
The San Francisco Giants have blown 30 saves this season -- the most in baseball.
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"We had some struggles with the 'pen, so that wasn't a complete surprise. We knew that was gonna be a work in progress coming out of spring training, and it just continued to haunt us," Giants executive vice president of baseball operations, Brian Sabean, told KNBR 680 on Tuesday. "Having said that, that wasn't the only reason for the downturn -- we broke down on a regular basis with every department, individually and collectively.
"But I think the biggest factor, if you include the blown saves, is the one-run games that we didn't win."
The Giants were 20-11 in one-run games in the first half of the season, and their 57-33 record at the All-Star break was the best in baseball.
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In the second half of the season, the Orange and Black are 8-17 in one-run games.
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"I always used to say that I really don't worry about blown saves as long as you win the game," Sabean added. "But we're totally inept in that category, and have set a record, and really embarrassed by it."
Entering Tuesday's game against the Rockies, the Giants had the worst batting average in the National League with runners in scoring position in the month of September.
They responded with a 5-for-16 performance and a 12-3 win.
Matt Moore allowed just one run over 7.2 innings while striking out 11.
"Our signature style of play has been good pitching, defense, keep the game close, timely hitting and somehow find a way to win the game," Sabean explained. "And it doesn't necessarily have to be artistic. But lord knows it was ugly throughout the second half."
