Red Sox right-hander Koji Uehara made the single most lucrative relief appearance of his career in Tuesday night’s 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays.
Sitting on 54 relief appearances for the season and needing a total of 55 appearances to trigger a $4.25 million vesting option for 2014, Uehara entered in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs on the board and the score tied 2-2. He struck out the only batter he faced -- Jose Reyes -- and then after the Red Sox rallied for two tallies in the top of the 11th the native of Neyawaga, Japan came back with a perfect closing frame to secure Boston’s 72nd win of 2013.
It was an impressive effort from a guy who has been impressive all season. Uehara, a big free agent bargain this past winter, now boasts a 1.32 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 75/9 K/BB ratio in 54 2/3 innings with Boston.
Uehara can bump that vesting option to $5 million if he finishes 35 games. He has finished 24 so far.