Brad Ausmus’ summation of the eighth inning was succinct for the television cameras.
“In the eighth inning, they swung the bats well enough to beat us,” he said.
He went into a little more detail on the decisions that led up to it.
“It really was lining up fairly well, considering the starter goes five,” Ausmus said of the bullpen. “You’re somewhat piecing it together. But on any given night, someone can have an off night.”
Because Al Alburquerque, Tom Gorzelanny and Angel Nesbitt worked two outs apiece to cover the sixth and seventh, Ausmus had little backup if Joba Chamberlain struggled in the eighth.