Cats out of arms, again

By Andy Bitter

Published: April 15, 2008

Two nights ago, when the Hillcats summoned middle infielder Greg Picart to pitch the final inning of a game, it was a quirky footnote that had no bearing on what turned out to be a six-run loss.
When Lynchburg was forced to rely on another position player to finish things out in a close game Tuesday, it was less amusing.
Out of relief pitchers for the second straight night, the Hillcats had to call on outfielder James Barksdale to enter a tie game in the top of the 10th with two outs and the bases loaded, an unfair situation for even the most experienced relievers.
Predictably, Potomac cleanup hitter Frank Diaz ripped a two-run double to spur the Nationals on to a 5-2 win at City Stadium.
“It’s bad for me to have to put a position player in there,” Lynchburg manager Jeff Branson said. “And it’s also bad for this franchise here to see a positional player have to come in there and pitch.”
Going extra innings didn’t help. After needing his relievers to pitch eight innings the day before (and not even getting it, resulting in Picart’s impromptu pitching debut), Branson dipped into the bullpen in the fifth inning Tuesday, trailing 2-1.
Lynchburg’s relievers kept things close. Jake Cuffman and Eric Krebs combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing the Hillcats (4-7) to tie things at 2 in the eighth on Brian Friday’s RBI single.
They could have spared their beleaguered bullpen with a run in the ninth. Leadoff man Jared Keel walked, bringing up a bunting situation. The team had taken an extra bunting session earlier in the day during batting practice, but it didn’t translate to the game.
Eddie Prasch’s attempted sacrifice was too hard. Pitcher Zech Zinicola (2-0) fielded it and threw to second for the force out. Albert Laboy tried to do likewise, but fouled out to the catcher, who threw to first to double up Prasch and end the inning.
“That’s especially the time of the game when we need to get the bunts down,” Branson said. “We’ve just got to be able to execute.”
Branson went to his last available reliever, recently-activated Christian Castorri (0-1). The right-hander would have gotten through the 10th unscathed, but second baseman Angel Gonzalez dropped Steve Doetsch’s sky-high pop-up with one out.
Doetsch hustled to second, putting Potomac (9-2) in business. After a walk and a popout, Castorri walked Chris Marrero to load the bases with two outs. That was all for Castorri, who was on a tight pitch count.
Branson called to the bullpen for Barksdale, who estimated his last pitching performance was about seven years ago, when he was 15.
“Brando called me over and I thought it was to talk about me pinch running or pinch hitting the next inning,” Barksdale said. “He said, ‘You’re pitching.’ I kind of looked at him, and he said, ‘I’m serious.’”
Branson’s advice was the same he gave Picart the night before: throw it down the middle for strikes.
Barksdale did. In fact, the southpaw got ahead in the count 1-2, but Diaz jumped all over his next offering, lining it into the left field corner to score two runs.
“I thought I was going to have a chance to maybe get him out,” Barksdale said. “I must have left that pitch over the middle of the plate.”
Branson thinks Lynchburg’s bullpen should be OK this afternoon. Relievers need a certain number of days of rest in between outings based on how many pitches and innings they threw last time out, otherwise they’re inviting arm injuries.
The last two games just so happened to stretch the Hillcats’ corps of relievers to their limit.
“You can’t put guys in jeopardy,” Branson said. “You have to be able to protect them. That’s what we were doing is protecting them.”
NOTES: C Kris Watts was sent to Double-A Altoona to fill-in as a backup while Miguel Perez is on the disabled list. The Pirates promoted Chris Jones from Low-A Hickory to serve as Steve Lerud’s backup in the meantime. Jones, who played in Lynchburg for 13 games in 2006, was injured last season and did not play.