Wow. I stand super corrected. I also enjoy that the Rangers also set a record for most runs scored in a doubleheader as they went on to score 10 more runs in the next game. That's a rough two game homestand for Baltimore. I ALSO enjoy how the Orioles had just renewed their manager's contract that very same day. That is a good/awful day for that guy.
A blown save (abbreviated BS or B) is charged to a pitcher who enters a game in a situation which permits him to earn a save (a 'save situation'), but who instead allows the tying run to score. Note that if the tying run was scored by a runner who was already on base when the new pitcher entered the game, that new pitcher will be charged with a blown save even though the run (and earned run) will not be charged to the new pitcher, but rather to the pitcher who allowed that runner to reach base.
If that same pitcher also allows the winning run to reach base and score, as with any other similar situation, if his team does not come back to win the game, said pitcher will be charged with both the loss and a 'blown save.' The blown save is not an officially recognized statistic, but many sources keep track of them. Blown saves have been tracked since 1988. Once a pitcher blows a save, he is no longer eligible to earn a save in that game (since the lead that he was trying to "save" has disappeared), although he can earn a win if his team regains the lead. For this reason, most closers' records include few wins. Closers make the majority of their appearances with their team ahead, so a loss usually includes a blown save.
They should have a stat for a reliever who blows a huge lead. Like if a guy comes in and gives up 10 runs in the 9th and his team loses, shouldn't he get a special stat to go along with his loss. They could call it "BG" for blown game.
There's one thing I don't like about baseball; some of the arcane, non-sensical rules. Wes Littleton gets a "save" just for pitching 3 scoreless innings? What did he "save" precisely? Shouldn't that be called an "assist" or something?
