Jonathan Broxton came into a non-save situation in the ninth inning Sunday night. The Dodgers held a 6-2 lead over the Yankees, but New York scored four runs in the ninth and two in the tenth to win the game 8-6. There’s a line of thought that closers don’t pitch well in non-save situations. Broxton is the opposite of that. During his career, he’s posted a 4.01 ERA in save situations, 2.34 when the game is not on the line. Broxton strikes out two more batters per nine innings when he’s going for a save, but also gives up home runs at nearly twice the rate.

Of course Broxton didn’t become a closer until 2008. In that period, his ERAs are almost identical in save or non-save situations, 2.32 when he’s going for the save, 2.45 when he’s not. He still gives up about twice as many home runs in the save situations however. Either way you slice it, last night’s blown game was unusual for Jonathan.