Couch Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week
Portland, Maine- Portland Sea Dogs' Right-handed pitcher Keith Couch has been selected as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 12th through 18th. Couch pitched two games for the Sea Dogs last week and had a record of 2-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA to earn the honor.
Couch, who is a native of Elmont, New York, made his first appearance of the week on Tuesday night at Altoona and earned the win with seven strong innings in Portland's 5-2 victory. He gave up one run on eight hits while striking out four batters and walking one. Couch was even more impressive in his second appearance of the week on Sunday afternoon at Harrisburg, tossing a complete game six-hitter with four strikeouts and no walks while lifting Portland to a 2-1 win. It was the first nine-inning complete game by a Sea Dogs' pitcher since Charlie Zink on June 19th, 2007 at Connecticut. It was the second complete game of Couch's professional career; he threw nine innings for the Salem Red Sox on July 25th of last year against Myrtle Beach.
The 23-year old led all Eastern League pitchers in innings pitched (16.0) last week. He also tied for the league lead in wins (2) and complete games (1) and tied for seventh in strikeouts (8). On the season, Couch has appeared in 27 games (13 starts) for the Sea Dogs posting a 10-3 record with a 3.55 ERA. He ranks ninth in the Eastern League in ERA and tied 2nd in wins (10). Since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation in early June, Couch has a record of 7-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 13 games. Couch was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2010 draft.
Couch joins Chris Martin and Drake Britton as the only three Sea Dogs' to earn Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors this season.
The Sea Dogs begin a three game homestand on Monday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or order online at www.seadogs.com.