Anyone want a job pitching as a sixth/seventh inning specialist? Then the American Defenders of New Hampshire, namely manager Brian Daubach, want you.

Maybe he’ll get some volunteers from the local cigar bar that filled the Firepit area behind the visitors bullpen on Monday night. Daubach wasn’t too thrilled, understandably, after his team blew an early 3-0 lead an bowed to the New Jersey Jackals again an announced crowd of 1,012.

“The sixth and seventh innings are up for grabs,” he said after watching Miguel Flores produce a quality start for seven innings and then see the bullpen cough up four Jackals runs in the eighth. Luis Ramos was the main culprig, walking two (one intentional), hitting a batter and allowing a hit to be charged with all four runs in taking the loss (4-4). The runners he allowed Alex Woodson to inherit all scored as Woodson himself gave up two hits to produce the runs.

Once again, poor pitching kills this team.

“The bottom line,” Daubach said.

It looks now like the club is going to add a pitcher in time for Wednesday’s 11:35 a.m. start, and will move Lucas Ledbetter back into the bullpen. Daubach had success earlier with the Ledbetter-Adam Piechowski-Juan Padilla combo.

“At least with Luc, he know he’s going to throw strikes and give us everything he’s got,” Daubach said. “It’s sad, but that’s where we’re at. We need somebody who can throw a strike. In a tie game, you can’t walk guys. They’re going to bunt, and then you’re one swing away from losing the game every night. Make them get two or three hits.”

Clearly, Daubach is incredibly frustrated with his pitchers’ inability to throw strikes. The team , which really only walked two unintentionally last night, has now issued 214 free passes on the season — compared to 227 strikeouts. Compare that to New Jersey, for example, which has 320 Ks and just 129 walks. No wonder the Jackals won the first half.

“When we got on that run, with Lucas pitching well, I know he prefers starting, but right now he’s too valuable in those sixth or seventh innings. That’s where we’re at.” 

Flores pitched well, giving up six hits over seven innings. “He kept us in the game,” Daubach said. “Bottom line is it’s 4-4 in the eighth inning. It’s what we do. Last two nights we’ve tried everybody. just about everyone in the bullpen’s given up a run.”

Is the bullpen finally wilting under the pressure of having to relieve ineffective starters night in, night out (Monday  one of the exceptions)?

“The bullpen isn’t under any pressure. We’ve carried 12 pitchers all year. Bottom line is we’re the only team in the league with 12 pitchers. For that reason. We have seven guys in the pen. We have an extra guy. So that’s no excuse. All the guys we use are fresh.”

— TOM KING