Jordan Hicks recorded his first save with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, helping the team secure a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals and complete a three-game sweep at Nationals Park. With Boston holding a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, manager Alex Cora chose Hicks to close out the game, marking Hicks’ first save chance of the season and his third appearance since returning from the injured list on June 30.
Challenging Ninth Inning Against Nationals’ Lineup
Though Hicks showed some control issues after not pitching since Wednesday, he managed to shut the door on the Nationals. He started the inning by walking Brady House with one out, then allowed House to reach second base on a wild pitch against pinch-hitter Daylen Lile. Lile’s single brought in House, narrowing the lead to 6-4. With two outs, Hicks faced CJ Abrams, who represented the tying run. After throwing four consecutive pitches outside the strike zone, Abrams chased two of them but ultimately flew out to Jarren Duran, ending the game.
Strike Zone Struggles Offset by Timely Command
Hicks threw 23 pitches in the inning, but only 12 were strikes. Despite the lack of sharpness, the performance secured Hicks’ first save since August 19, 2024. It was an improvement following his last outing on Wednesday, where he permitted three runs on three hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning. Overall, Hicks has been inconsistent in his first few appearances with Boston after arriving in the Rafael Devers trade from the San Francisco Giants, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks across 2 2/3 innings.
Role of Hicks Within Boston’s Bullpen Moving Forward
Hicks became the sixth Red Sox reliever to earn a save this season. Usually, Aroldis Chapman would close games, but Cora used him earlier in the eighth inning to face a tougher segment of the Nationals’ order. Sunday’s save added to Hicks’ career total of 34, though it was only his second save since the beginning of 2024. Given his flexibility to pitch both as a starter and reliever, how Cora will deploy Hicks in upcoming games remains to be seen, but for now, Chapman appears secure as the team’s primary closer.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Jordan Hicks a diabetic?
A. Jordan Hicks, known for his powerful throws, learned he had Type 1 diabetes at age 17. He called himself the “Diabetic Phenom” to prove the condition doesn’t need to stop you.
Q. Is Jordan Hicks diabetes?
A. When Jordan Hicks was 17, he found out he had Type 1 diabetes. He called himself the “Diabetic Phenom” to show that his condition wouldn’t stop him. This shared experience connected him and his Giants teammates when he joined the team last year.