The St. Louis Cardinals are looking for a closer yet again.
Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Saturday that the club has removed Eduardo Sanchez from his role a day after after the rookie was unable to hold a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning of the Cards' 10-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Duncan cited the right-hander's drop in velocity and increase of pitches thrown per inning as reasons for the move.
Sanchez was tabbed as the team's closer on April 27 after Ryan Franklin struggled.
But since taking over for the veteran, Sanchez has averaged 22 pitches per inning over eight appearances as opposed to just 14 in his five outings prior to the promotion.
To replace Sanchez, the Cardinals will likely look to Fernando Salas or Mitchell Boggs.
Miguel Batista and Trever Miller appear to be out of the running for closer duties after both were unable to record an out during the seventh inning Friday.
"Those are veteran guys," Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "They are expected to get the job done a high percentage of the time."