Jonathan Broxton melts down, blows game in 12th

You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you’ll have to answer to
Oh, runs of Broxton

After Oakland’s Seth Smith reached on an Alcides Escobar error in the 12th, Broxton walked two batters and hit two more to take a blown save and a loss in a 5-4 game.

Broxton retired the first batter he faced prior to Escobar’s miscue. After the two walks, the tying run scored on a groundout and Broxton was in position to still send the game to the 13th. Only then he plunked Yoenis Cespedes and Jonny Gomes with back-to-back pitches, ending the contest.

Broxton, who was signed to set up for Joakim Soria, has looked pretty shaky since the beginning of the spring and doesn’t seem long for the closer’s role in Kansas City. Greg Holland is probably next in line, and Aaron Crow, who started games this spring before being shifted back to the pen, could also be an option.