ATLANTA -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum said a change in the closer's role could be coming after Carlos Marmol blew a save in Saturday's 6-5 ninth-inning loss to the Atlanta Braves. It was the third game Marmol has appeared in this season in which he has given up runs, but this was his first blown save.
"We're definitely going to talk about it now," Sveum said after the game.
Marmol came into the game with the Cubs leading 5-4 but gave up a leadoff home run to B.J. Upton. Then, two batters later, B.J.'s brother Justin, ended it with a walk-off shot.
"I'm trying to do my best out there, and things are going bad," Marmol said. "I need to locate more of my pitches. That's why I'm getting hit."
Sveum said he wasn't sure who would take over the closer duties. Setup man Kyuji Fujikawa gave up three runs in the eighth inning to allow the Braves to pull within one.
"You got [Shawn] Camp and [James] Russell that seem to be pretty efficient when they pitch," Sveum said of his seventh-inning pitchers. "They've never had to do the last three outs of the game, but there is a mix of pitches. Those are options."
When informed he might not be closing anymore, Marmol responded, "I can't say anything because he [Sveum] didn't tell me anything."
Marmol gave up runs in two wins in Pittsburgh, but the Cubs managed to win both games. His ERA after Saturday is 27.00.
Sveum was asked if he knew what was wrong with Marmol.
"If I knew that, I'd be a genius," he said. "When he throws strikes it's getting hit now, too."
