Cal notes: Pearl shines in closer's role

Bakersfield closer Brian Pearl is a take-charge kind of guy. He proves it by attacking the zone against hitters in a league that skews against the pitcher, racking up 10 saves and 32 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. That aggressive persona is essential to a closer's success, but for Pearl, it changed the tide of his career.

The University of Washington recruited Pearl as an infielder. He played third base and short for the Huskies while building on his high school pitching experience, which was limited. He described pitching during his senior year as "short bursts -- one inning here and there."

In 2008 Pearl headed to the Northwoods League, a wood bat summer circuit for college players, and found his calling in the ninth inning. Pearl got a chance to close games for the Green Bay Bullfrogs and took his new act back to Washington.

Pearl pushed the team to install him as closer, and he flashed great velocity. Cincinnati took notice and selected Pearl in the ninth round of the 2009 Draft.

He responded by striking out 43 in 28 2/3 innings and saving eight games in his pro debut for the Billings Mustangs. The following year proved to be yet another turning point as the Reds chose to work him out as a starter in Class A Dayton. He pitched well in his first three outings but struggled in his next two.

The source of the problem appeared during his fifth start.

"All of a sudden I had a burning sensation in my elbow," he said. "Sure enough it turned out to be a torn ligament, and I had Tommy John surgery in July [2010]."

Pearl lost 10 months to the surgery and recovery process, but he gained knowledge and experience invaluable to his career. The closer worked with Tom Browning, the Reds' instructional league pitching coach during Pearl's recovery, at the team's complex in Arizona.

"[Browning] really helped me with the mental side of the game," Pearl said. "He helped me stay mentally strong, because when you get hit around as a closer, it can really beat you up."

Pearl claimed the closer's role as his own through his declaration back in college and through his body of work on the mound, particularly this season with the Blaze. The 24-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 10 saves in 24 appearances. He has 34 strikeouts and just seven walks in 29 2/3 innings.

To maintain his spot in the bullpen and put up such impressive numbers, Pearl has employed tricks he learned as a starter -- like using all four of his pitches to stay ahead of hitters. He throws two fastballs -- a two-seam and a four-seam -- a changeup and a slider.

"It's good to have all four [pitches] especially when facing left-handers," he said. "I don't want to leave a slider up in the zone because they'll see it really well. It's good to have the changeup too."

Slumping Giants: The San Jose Giants lost their ninth straight game Monday and dropped a full game behind Bakersfield in the North Division. The Blaze, who enjoyed a 6-1 week, avenged a three-game sweep at the hands of the Giants in May by taking three straight in San Jose by a total score of 24-13.

Quick rise: Lancaster made a move in the South Division, reeling off a five-game winning streak last week. Though they lost Monday night to Rancho Cucamonga, the JetHawks moved a game behind division leaders High Desert and Lake Elsinore.

Ride the hot hand: Visalia shortstop Chris Owings has hit safely in his last six games and blasted a home run May 31 against Lancaster. He's scored 10 runs in his last six games and has shown good power all season with 11 roundtrippers. Owings has already matched his 2011 home run total in less than half the games.