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Friday, 11 April 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET — All David Pauley needed was two more outs.
Pauley had thrown 74 pitches up until one down in the fifth. That might not seem a heavy burden for the right-hander’s arm to pay, but according to the rule book the Red Sox hardly ever deviate from, Pauley’s work was deemed complete.
Still, it has to be frustrating for a pitcher to come within hailing distance of becoming eligible for the win, which would have been Pauley’s second of the young season.
“It’s just one of those things you have to battle through early on in the season,” said Pauley after Pawtucket completed a four-game sweep over still winless Lehigh Valley (0-8) on Thursday, 5-2. “You build [arm strength] up during spring training, then begin again.”
As much as PawSox skipper Ron Johnson would like to see his starting pitchers earn victories, there’s a much greater good to take into account. “I think there’s more of a concern for the quality of [Pauley’s] outing and stuff rather than leaving him out there to face a few more hitters,” said Johnson. “I totally comprehend that not one of my starting pitchers would understand, and I don’t want them to.
“I’m a believer in everything that we do in this organization, and it has proven to be correct,” Johnson continued. “Our focus is to get guys quality innings and pitch efficiency.”
If that means sacrificing wins, so be it.
Pauley’s “cameo” amounted to five hits, one run (a solo home run off the bat of IronPigs catcher Jason Jarmillo), two walks and one strikeout, which came against the final hitter he faced.
Boston’s conservation approach falls more in line with long-range planning than anything. The hurlers down on the farm might not be crazy about going out with a specific pitch count, but so be the decree from Yawkey Way.
“You’ve got to understand the fact that it’s not necessarily what you do [in Triple-A] but when they call you up to the big club,” said Pauley, who threw 61 pitches in his first start of the season last Saturday. “You’re going to get your innings down here so you’ve got to take them when you can.”
Of course if an emergency situation arrived and Boston had to summon someone from Pawtucket’s pitching corps right now, chances are BoSox manager Terry Francona would make sure to have every bullpen arm ready and waiting.
Progression is the best word Johnson can describe his starting pitchers going forward.
“They will probably stay around the 75-80 pitch mark their first two or three starts, which should carry them towards the end of April,” he said. “After that we’ll bump them up to 90-95, then 110-115, which is about all you’ll ever see a guy throw for us down here.”
Of the six victories Pawtucket has recorded to date, four have gone to members of the bullpen, which continues to provide all sorts of indications that come late in the game leads will be hard to relinquish.
Dating back to Sunday, PawSox relievers have worked 23 innings, allowing two runs over that span. Pawtucket carried a 12 2/3 scoreless inning streak heading into Thursday’s ninth inning, but it was snapped when Dan Kolb surrendered three straight bleeders, the final hit producing a run for the struggling IronPigs.
The win goes to Lincoln Holdzkom, his second. Abe Alvarez continues to thrive as a left-handed specialist, tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
With the tying run at the plate, Jon Switzer got a swinging strikeout in the only batter he faced to earn the save.
“Those guys are done a nice job to this point,” praised Johnson. “You’ve got to be pleased. I have confidence in everyone equally.”
Jonathan Van Every continues to be a nice surprise of the ninth slot for Johnson. The centerfielder, who makes everything seem easy, belted his third home run of the young season, a two-run shot in the fifth that landed with a thud off an advertisement beyond the right field picnic area.
Lehigh Valley starter Brian Mazone struck out 10 in six innings, walking no one. The IronPigs, who tonight will finally play home game No. 1 (vs. Richmond), are now 4-for-43 with runners in scoring position.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 17 May 2008 )
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