With Brad Boxberger set to return in days, Alex Colome’s stint as the Rays’ de-facto ninth-inning lockdown artist appears to be almost over.

So let this serve as an appreciation for a job well done.

Colome collected his 12^th save in a 4-3 win over the Marlins yesterday, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts in two innings. He has a magnificent 1.29 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21 innings this season, acting as the Derrick Brooks to Erasmo Ramirez’s Warren Sapp.

It will be interesting to watch how the Rays handle their ninth-inning situation if Boxberger falters after his return from adductor surgery. Manager Kevin Cash doesn’t have a shortage of options – Colome included – if circus music accompanies Boxberger’s re-introduction to the big leagues. Cash shouldn’t hesitate a nanosecond to slide Colome back into the ninth inning if the skipper starts to doubt Boxberger for whatever reason.

But Joe wonders where the Rays would be without Colome, who has been both sound and solid the past few months. A dark place, for sure.

Colome has allowed just three runs in 19 appearances this season and none since surrendering two in a loss to the Blue Jays on May 1. In a time when Cash can peg his bullpen studs and duds, Colome has separated himself as one of the trusted.

Your 2016 bullpen stats:

Player	W	L	ERA▲	G	GS	SV	SVO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG	WHIP
Sturdevant	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	0.00
Colome	1	1	1.29	19	0	12	12	21.0	13	3	3	1	4	28	.178	0.81
Ramirez	6	2	2.43	19	1	0	1	37.0	28	10	10	5	6	28	.214	0.92
Marinez	0	0	2.45	3	0	0	0	3.2	2	1	1	1	0	3	.154	0.55
Webb	0	0	3.00	15	0	0	0	15.0	19	6	5	2	3	8	.333	1.47
Farquhar	0	0	3.38	6	0	0	0	5.1	7	2	2	2	2	5	.304	1.69
Romero	1	0	3.71	18	0	0	1	17.0	10	8	7	2	7	12	.169	1.00
Cedeno	2	1	3.97	16	0	0	2	11.1	9	5	5	0	6	13	.209	1.32
Geltz	0	2	6.06	17	0	0	1	16.1	14	11	11	7	6	12	.226	1.22
Eveland	0	1	8.25	14	0	0	0	12.0	14	11	11	2	9	12	.286	1.92