Bill on Baseball: "Bulldog mentality" helps Hoppers' Howe
The one thing a closer doesn't want to do, especially trying to protect a one-run lead, is walk the leadoff hitter.That's exactly what Bryce Howe did Friday night, but he overcame that faux pas and saved the 4-3 win for the Hoppers over Hickory. It was Greensboro's second straight win
The one thing a closer doesn't want to do, especially trying to protect a one-run lead, is walk the leadoff hitter.
That's exactly what
"It was a tight situation with a lot of pressure and I had a few butterflies facing that first hitter," Howe said of his season debut against Hickory's
Enright reached second base on a sacrifice, but Howe shut down the rally by getting
Aparicio had singled in his previous two trips, driving in a run with the first one. But on a 1-and-2 count, he never moved his bat on strike three.
"I got the count in my favor," Howe said, "and then I threw a changeup. I think I froze him because he was looking for something else."
Howe was drafted in the 18th round last summer out of Oral Roberts University, where he began his career as a starter and finished it as a reliever. He notched four saves in five chances in the Gulf Coast League after signing with the Marlins.
"I'm used to coming out of the bullpen," Howe said. "I'll be happy with any role, but I absolutely like the late innings. It fits my mentality, which is to be a bulldog and attack hitters."
It will take some time for the eight pitchers in the bullpen to sort out their roles. Pitching coach Mark DiFelice said
"Howe has a good curve ball as his out pitch and good command of his fastball," DeFelice said. "I like his aggression in the strike zone."
"He ran out of gas," said manager Todd Pratt, "but he gave us five good innings on short notice and that's all we could ask."
NOTES: After