Even if he was doing it in the eighth inning, seeing Koji Uehara make light work of Toronto on just 10 pitches Saturday felt more than familiar to Sox manager John Farrell.
“Koji continues to do what he’s done for three, four years here,’’ he said.
But now the combination of Uehara building the bridge for Craig Kimbrel in the ninth has the makings of a lights-out back end of the bullpen.
Kimbrel took the baton from Uehara and promptly struck out the side in the ninth to seal the Red Sox’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.
Beyond the blip in Kimbrel’s Fenway Park debut on Monday, the setup man and closer have been dominant.
Uehara’s given up just two hits in seven scoreless innings. Kimbrel has saved four of the Sox’ six wins, and he tied a career-high streak of 26 appearances with at least one strikeout.
“We’ve got seasoned veterans that continue to execute pitches,’’ Farrell said. “I don’t think they really let the game unravel in terms of emotions.’’
Between Uehara’s devastating splitter and Kimbrel’s 90-mile-per-hour curveball, they pose a challenge to any lineup late in games, Farrell said.
“It’s a unique contrast of styles,’’ said Farrell. “Even though the hitter’s not going to face those same two guys, but still you have that . . . strikeout ability by both guys.’’
Praise for Swihart
Farrell expected Blake Swihart to be disappointed when he sat down with the catcher to tell him he was being sent to Triple A Pawtucket.
The news would be disappointing to anyone, especially a 24-year-old still just starting to make his way in the majors.
But in making the decision, Farrell and the Sox front office explained to Swihart that they valued him and saw a future for him for years to come. For that reason, Farrell said, he doesn’t expect Swihart’s confidence to take a hit.
“I think any player, if they understand where they stand within the organization, how they’re viewed and what the discussion is about the potential end result,’’ Farrell said before the Sox’ win Saturday. “All a player wants to know is where they stand and they’ll figure out — with guidance and help — how we get to that end point and Blake is no different from that. He knows that we value him. He’s an important player for us, not only now but for a lot of years to come and I think he appreciates that candidness that we spoke with him yesterday.’’
The amount of young talent the Sox have kept on the roster in recent years has made conversations common place. It’s a conversation Farrell had to have with Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2013, when Bradley was the Sox opening day center fielder but found himself in Triple A Pawtucket by June. Xander Bogaerts was in a similar position the same year when he was moved to third base after spending essentially his entire baseball lifetime at shortstop.
“I don’t know that it’s ever an easy conversation to have,’’ Farrell said. “You’re making a move taking away what someone has put their heart and soul and their work into. I think as long as you can balance the message with what the future holds and what we envision him being, then I think there’s greater understanding. But particularly when you’re talking about a young player that you value a lot, that’s one that you take extra steps to be very clear and outline what the plan going forward is because they’re very important to our future as a team.’’
Farrell and Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have both said they see room for both Swihart and Christian Vazquez on the roster in the future. The plan for Swihart in Pawtucket is to have him continue developing at catcher while also learning to play left field.
“Granted, we fully acknowledge his disappointment,’’ Farrell said. “Anybody that gets sent down is disappointed because things haven’t worked out, at least in the short run.’’
“This isn’t centering around just Blake Swihart. This was Christian’s return. They’re two guys that while they’ve not necessarily been on the same level coming up to the minor leagues, they’re well aware of the capabilities of one another.’’
“What we outlined to Blake, there’s a clear picture that we can envision both guys coexisting on the same roster and potentially in the same lineup on a given day. So he knows what the game plan is. Yeah, short-term disappointment, but as far as confidence, he’s a tough kid, a smart kid that will go out and put forth the work and commitment needed.’’
Lineup leftovers
Coming into Saturday, the Red Sox were one of just three teams that hadn’t faced a lefthanded starter. That will change Monday when J.A. Happ takes the mound for the Blue Jays in the finale of this four-game set.
That will mean righthanded batters Chris Young and Josh Rutledge will likely be in the lineup, Farrell said.
Young went into Saturday’s game having gotten just eight at-bats in five appearances this season. His only start came April 10 in Toronto with Brock Holt out of the lineup with a bruised foot. He went hitless in three at-bats against righthander Marco Estrada.
Young is a .263 lifetime hitter against lefties.
He hit .327 with seven homers and 24 RBIs against lefties last season with the Yankees.
Rutledge, who was called up from Triple A Pawtucket, would likely see time at third, giving Travis Shaw a breather. But Rutledge could also play first, where he’s taken reps before games. That move would allow a day off for David Ortiz, while sliding Hanley Ramirez to DH.
Smith improves
Carson Smith threw 35 pitches of live batting practice Saturday. The next step for the 26-year-old righthander will be throwing simulated games Tuesday and Thursday, then possibly have him pitch a game in extended spring training Saturday . . . Eduardo Rodriguez is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday, upping his pitch count from the 50 he threw in three innings of work on Wednesday.
Julian Benbow can be reached at jbenbow@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @julianbenbow.
