Manager Alex Cora had Aroldis Chapman face the top of the order in the eighth. Chapman gave up a homer to Andrew Benintendi and had another guy reach when Jarren Duran dropped a flyball for an error, but he retired the other three batters he faced. Slaten then made quick work of the bottom of the order. Chapman remains the favorite for saves in Boston, but Cora is showing flexibility in how he uses his lefty, making Slaten and Garrett Whitlock roster options in deep leagues.

It was Slaten’s first save since getting the call back on Opening Day against the Rangers.

The Red Sox were down 4-3 when Slaten entered in the eighth and then saw him give up three hits — all of them singles and none hit very hard — and a walk before being pulled. Cooper Criswell came in with one run in and went on to allow all the inherited runners to score. Slaten has Boston’s only save to date, and one bad day won’t hurt him much. Aroldis Chapman is the Red Sox closer, but Slaten will remain a viable alternative when matchups dictate changes.

Slaten got the call to protect a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning following Wilyer Abreu’s go-ahead homer in the top of the frame. It’s worth noting that veteran lefty Aroldis Chapman, the club’s presumptive closer to open the year, was summoned to face Corey Seager to kick off the eighth inning of a tie ballgame.