In the State College Spikes' lockerroom the pitching staff was nowhere to be found after Wednesday nights game. With some players in the clubhouse and the pitchers meeting to discuss their outings, it was evident that manager Gary Robinson expected more from his team.
About thirty minutes after the game ended, Robinson entered the clubhouse and said he felt his team didn't display the urgency he is used to seeing. Robinson said he planned to meet with his team to discuss its performance moments after talking to the media.
Robinson felt his starting pitcher, Nelson Pereira (1-2) who only stayed in the game for 1.2 innings, failed to set the tone for the game. Pereira walked three batters, hit another and surrendered two runs and was charged with the loss. Robinson said he felt the struggles from the pitchers carried over to the rest of the team and resulted in the kind of effort he is not accustomed to seeing from the Spikes.
The manager said it really put the team in a tough situation knowing that a pitcher can not throw more than 35 pitches in an inning, while Periera was in the upper 20s right before leaving the game.
"There has to be a happy ground between, Ok, we're thin pitchwise, but maybe we have to wear a loss tonight in order to protect the arm of the player," Robinson said.
Brandon Holden entered the game to relieve Pereira and managed to strike out one and give up no hits in his one inning of work.
Robinson next called upon Ricardo Paulino, who saw the most time for the club, pitching four innings. Paulino surrendered seven hits and was charged with three earned runs. The manager jokingly called Paulino a "puppy." Robinson insinuated the 22-year-old pitcher needs more experience to capitalize on his talent.
"He had good stuff," Robinson said. "But, his fastball was up. He had command issues, too many deep counts. His stuff is very good and when you have that kind of stuff you keep running them out there until they get it. But tonight wasn't his best night."
