Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman capped off the Red Sox' 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Fenway for his third save of the season. But Chapman did not feature the same zip on his signature fastball. 

Chapman made quick work of Milwaukee in the top of the ninth inning to secure the save. Luis Matos led off the inning, sending the first pitch he saw out to center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela. With one out, Chapman proceeded to walk right fielder Sal Frelick on four pitches. Thankfully for Chapman the wild spell didn't last. Now with the tying run on first, Milwaukee center fielder Blake Perkins went first pitch swinging at a shockingly slow 90.3 mph four-seam fastball, hitting a tailor made double play ball to shortstop Trevor Story, who flipped to second baseman Isaiah Kiner Falefa. The duo completed the turn and ended the game, improving the Red Sox to 3-8.

Overall, Chapman threw fastballs on all six of the pitches he threw while locking down the save, with an average velocity of 93.6 mph, a 2.1 mph drop off from his yearly average of 96 mph. Perhaps equally as odd, he did not generate a single swing-and-miss in his appearance, after generating five in his first two appearances in Houston and Cincinnati. 

Anytime one of your relievers is experiencing a significant dip in velocity, there is at least some reason to be concerned, especially when your bullpen is in the shape that Boston's has been over the first week of the season. 

Red Sox starters have only given them 53 innings through the first 11 games of the season, which ranks them 23rd in baseball—forcing Cora to push his relievers to cover the remaining innings. Not only has the bullpen been incredibly taxed through the first week and a half of the season, but Cora has had to deal with a pair of injuries to key pieces in the pen. First, Johan Oviedo hit the injured list with right elbow discomfort, then Justin Slaten hit the injured list ahead of Wednesday's rubber match with an oblique strain. 

However, it appears that the Red Sox have dodged a major bullet in the case of Chapman. After Tuesday's win, Cora dismissed the drop and velocity, attributing them to the cold weather. "he said the ball didn't feel great, with the weather it was tough," said Cora. "We'll check in with him, but he's healthy," he continued. 

The Red Sox will go for their first series win of the season in Wednesday afternoon's rubber match against the Brewers. First pitch from Fenway Park at 1:35 p.m. ET. 

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