Kinston bombs Benoit

By Andy Bitter

Published: May 2, 2008

Every pitcher goes through rough patches. They just don’t always get noticed.

Unfortunately for Hillcats reliever Charles Benoit, his recent bad moments have come at highly visible — and costly — times.

Benoit got hammered for the second time this week, giving up four runs in the sixth inning of a 7-4 loss to Kinston at City Stadium on Friday, three days after a similar outing.

“He’s in a rut right now,” Lynchburg manager Jeff Branson said. “I told him after the game, ‘Look, I’ve got confidence in you. And I’m going to make sure you keep it in yourself. We’re going to run you back out there to pitch, regardless of the situation.’”

The situation was favorable Friday. The Hillcats (12-16) led 4-2 after five innings, the beneficiaries of another solid outing by starter Michael Crotta, who struck out five and gave up two unearned runs.

But things started bad for Benoit (0-4). He walked the first two batters, then issued a double to Nick Weglarz down the right field line that brought home a run.

Benoit got a strike out, but Cirilo Cumberbatch lined a single to left that scored two, giving the Indians (9-16) their first lead at 5-4.

After a double by Niuman Romero and an RBI single by Alex Castillo, Benoit’s night was done. He faced seven batters and recorded one out.

It’s the third forgettable outing in seven times out this year for Benoit, who gave up five earned runs in an inning and third against Potomac on April 14 and did the same against Myrtle Beach on Tuesday. His ERA for the season is 14.90.

“We believe in him. We believe in his stuff,” Branson said. “Everybody’s going to got through a rut. Everybody’s going to go through a bad time. And he’s just in it right now.”

Lynchburg’s offense, which started with a fury, couldn’t pick him up.

Angel Gonzalez, who was 3-for-5, hit an RBI double off the right-center field wall in the second, part of a three-run inning. He singled in the fourth too, brining home Albert Laboy to give the Hillcats a 4-2 lead.

But the bats went quiet from there. Lynchburg wasted a leadoff double by Jim Negrych in the seventh with three straight strikeouts against Neil Wagner (1-2), who fanned five in his 2 2/3 innings.

The Hillcats had runners at second and third in the eighth and narrowly missed tying the game on a liner down the right field line by Gonzalez that was just foul. Two pitches later, he struck out swinging to end the rally, one of nine Lynchburg strikeouts in the final five innings.

Luis Perdomo pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save.

The ending spoiled Crotta’s night. The right-hander continued to be a model of consistency, pitching at least five innings for the sixth time in six starts this year.

Crotta has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all of his starts. Friday was his first no decision.

“You know you’ve only got five (innings), so you just do your stuff and hope for the best,” Crotta said. “Our bullpen’s been real solid. They had a little hiccup tonight, but it’s not going to be like that.

“Very rarely will that happen.”

NOTES: Outfielder Jamie Romak was called up from Extended Spring Training after finishing a rehab stint following offseason surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow. He DH’d and hit cleanup Friday, going 2-for-5 with a double. … Outfielder James Barksdale was put on the disabled list retroactive to April 20 to make room on the roster. … Right fielder Eddie Prasch went 2-for-4 with a double, extending his team-best hitting streak to 10 games.