Tito Sticking With Gagne

In seven appearances since coming over from Texas, Gagne has allowed 14 hits and 10 earned runs in six innings (15.00 ERA). He's allowed a .452 batting average (14-for-31), an OBP of .500 and a slugging percentage of .742. Not good.

But Francona gonna stick with him.

I don't think using him differently helps. You put a guy who pitches on adrenaline in a blowout game, it's not going to help him. ... If you're talking about a guy pitching a mop-up inning to give him work, I understand the questioning, but flip-flopping the inning? The runs still count, and you're getting the guy further away from his comfort zone. I don't know if that makes sense. ...

I guess, without being confrontational, my job is to do my job. His ERA in five or six outings is very high. If I were to -- and it seems like this is the way we're going with this [the media questions] , bench him -- that would be, in my opinion, incredibly stupid on my part.

I agree with this. There is no way Gagne has suddenly become a 15.00 ERA pitcher allowing a 1.242 OPS.