Who Red Sox’ Chad Tracy called a ‘godsend’ after Monday’s win

MIAMI — The Red Sox landed what many considered the best position player to switch teams at the trade deadline in catcher Adley Rutschman.

But of the four big leaguers Boston acquired on Aug. 3, a relief pitcher — not Rutschman — has made the biggest impact on winning so far.

“He’s been a godsend,” interim manager Chad Tracy said.

That godsend is left-hander Erik Miller, who Boston acquired from the Giants for shortstop Marcelo Mayer.

Miller allowed the Red Sox to escape the bottom of the eighth inning Monday with the game tied 2-2 after Jarren Duran’s error. Boston went on to win 4-2 over Miami at LoanDepot Park.

Miller has allowed just one unearned run while striking out 15 in 9 ⅓ innings across nine outings in his first 20 days on Boston’s roster.

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“He’s been everything as advertised,” Tracy said. “He’s been so good for us since we got him.”

Duran bobbled Leo Jiménez’s single with one out, allowing Jiménez to reach second base. Otto Lopez then bunted for a single.

With runners at the corners, Miller fielded Heriberto Hernández’s comebacker and threw home, catching Jiménez in a rundown. Rutschman tagged out Jiménez as he retreated to third base.

“Miller catching the ball above his head — if that gets over his head, we’re not turning a double play and we’re not getting the runner at the plate,” Tracy said.

Hernández hit it softly — just 64.8 mph off the bat — too slow to turn a double play.

“He’s able to snare it and then obviously you’ve got a left on left and you feel good about that,” Tracy said.

Miller won the left vs. left matchup, striking out Kyle Stowers to end the inning.

Miller has been so important because both setup men Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten went on the 15-day IL after Miller’s arrival due to elbow inflammation.

With those two relievers down, Tracy said Miller has joined Tyron Guerrero and Aroldis Chapman as “back-end guys with big, big stuff to come in and wipe some innings out.”

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made the decision to add another reliever in Miller despite already having arguably the game’s top bullpen. Boston is first in the majors in reliever ERA with a 2.90 mark.

The Red Sox have a chance to shorten games in the postseason with their deep stable of late-inning relievers. Whitlock is nearing a return. He will throw a live batting practice here in Miami on Wednesday.

“See how that goes and how he feels and if we’re able to activate him after that,” Tracy said.

Slaten, meanwhile, remained back in Boston to continue his throwing progression.

“He’s continuing to ramp up his throwing program,” Tracy said. “Obviously, he was about four or five days behind Wit, so he was out to 90 feet the other day and he’ll keep increasing intensity in his throwing. And we’ll check in with him as he goes, but he’s obviously a little further behind.”