Thursday, June 26, 2007

By Don Leypoldt, Silkworms Sports Information Department
Lynn, MA- Brian Pendergast (Unionville, CT/Manhattan) is ready for the marathon.

Tonight’s 1-0 loss to theNorth Shore Navigators was the first game of an 18 day stretch where theSilkworms will play every night.  Manchester’s next scheduled off day is not until July 14th.  Arms will be sorely tested for the next 2 ½weeks and starter Pendergast did his part to lessen the bullpen’s load in a heartbreaker.  The tall righty allowed just four base runners in seven innings. At one point Pendergast, who fanned three on the evening, retired 12 Navigators in a row.

But the help he needed fromhis offense, while tantalizingly close, didn’t materialize.  Seven Manchesterstarters singled off of starter Adam Herter, including four of the first six Worms to lead off thegame.  Unfortunately, a double play, a play at the plate and a nabbed would-be base stealer insured that no damage would be done in those early frames. Manchester’s closest threat came in the second when right fielder Zach Hudson (Nashville, TN/Middle TennesseeSt)- owner of one of those singles- was thrown out at home trying to scoreon a pickoff play to first base. 

North Shore right fielder Mike Provencher drilled hisNECBL-leading fourth homer to left-center in the first to open the scoring.  It was the first home run ofthe year at the Navigators’ pitcher-friendly Fraser Field; it was also one of the few blips on Pendergast’s record.  Although North Shorehad several warning track outs off of Pendergast’s offspeed pitches early in the game, the Manhattan Jasper showed his characteristic good command and forcedNavigator hitters into a lot of harmless contact. 

Two Silkworm errors led to anunearned Navigator run off of southpaw reliever Mike Anarumo (Levittown, NY/LeMoyne) in the eighth.

Third sacker Sean O’Hara (Gloucester, MA/Harvard)had two singles- extending his hitting streak to five games- and slammed a rocket in the fourth; only a running, over-the-shoulder grab by center fielder Justin Little prevented extra bases.  In the sixth inning, center fielder JoeCotter (Bryn Mawr, PA/Villanova) had a two out single,stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. But he could advance no further than the hot corner.  Cotter also had two hits tonight.

It’s hard to find offensive positivesin a shutout, but Silkworm hitters struck out just three times in the first eight frames.  Herter, who tossed 8.1innings this evening, brought a 1.50 ERA into tonight’s action; yet every Manchester hitter was still able to get good wood on the ball and put it solidly in play.  Manchester did leave the tying run at first when the game ended, after Hudson was hit by a pitch and O’Hara hit his second safety.

The Silkworms’ next game is tomorrow night, Friday June 27th, at home in Northwest Park when they host the Holyoke Blue Sox for the first time in franchise history.  Holyoke’s predecessor- the Giants- ironically moved to Lynn to become tonight’sopponent, the North Shore Navigators. First pitch is 7:00 p.m.  Northwest Park is located off of Tolland Turnpike.

Coming into Tonight: Manchester is hitting .271 at home and .150 on theroad--- Silkworm relief pitchers have a .185 average against on the road---A.J. Rusbarsky is hitting .412 (7 for 17) in his last four games--- Jeff Cammans is hitting .333 (4 for 12) in his last three games--- Matt Grosso is hitting .350 (7 for 20) in his last five games--- Sean O'Hara has a four game hitting streak; Mike Bourdon has hits in four of his last five games--- Brian Pendergast had a 1.00 WHIP in his only start--- Matt O'Brien has a 0.64 ERA inhis last 14 innings-- James Kukucka has posted consecutive, two inning shutout relief stints--- Nick Noblit has a 1.29 ERA in his last seven innings.