​Red Sox Closer Aroldis Chapman had All-Star Ending Taken Away From Him originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It wasn’t going to count as a save, because the American League was up by four runs, but it looked like Aroldis Chapman was going to finish the job.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe AL was on the verge of the first All-Star Game shutout in 13 years, and Chapman was trotting in from the bullpen for the bottom of the ninth inning. In the midst of an exceptional season for the Boston Red Sox, the closer was going to close it out.Until he wasn’t.Chapman struck out Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker.He then got a popout from Braves superstar Matt Olson.And then Blue Jays manager John Schneider came out of the dugout. The plan all along, it turns out, was for Chapman to get two outs.The problem was that Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays still had to pitch, and this was the script.MORE: Willson Contreras might’ve been robbed in the Home Run DerbyAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBaker gave up a single to Otto Lopez, then got a grounder back to himself to end it.It’s certainly a cool moment for Baker, who has never once had the hype surrounding his name that Chapman has had for a long, long time.It just was a slight bummer for anyone associated with the Red Sox who wanted Chapman to get a special moment at this point late in his career.It would’ve been easy to assume Chapman would’ve declined by now, but somehow he remains one of the most dominant closers in the game, and he’s one of the brightest spots of this Red Sox season.Of course, it’s special that Chapman was an All Star and that he got to pitch in the ninth inning. Finishing it off would’ve been cool, too.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLatest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships