Losing streak leaves Ingram searching

By Ken Lipshez
New Britain Herald Staff

NEW BRITAIN - Rock Cats manager Riccardo Ingram didn't recall crossing the River Styx while traveling last week from New Britain to Altoona, Pa.

He didn't recall seeing any hitchhikers with bright red skin, flaming fingertips and an evil leer.

But by the time Ingram's troops trudged back into town at an ungodly hour Monday morning, he had no doubt that they had been on a road trip to hell.

The Rock Cats came up empty in three games at Altoona and three in Bowie. The glow of being on the plus side of .500 for five weeks faded in the haze of a frustrating six-game losing streak, the longest of the season, to drop the team to 31-32.

"We lost games in every way possible," Ingram said.

What burned Ingram's britches the most was that the Rock Cats held late leads in the last four only to watch the bullpen fail every time. Nemesis Luis Jimenez, who has already rubbed a pound of salt in Rock Cat wounds since he left New Britain after the 2005 season, scored the winning run in the 12th inning Sunday.

"It was frustrating to me because this club has been competing all year," he said. "The main concern I have is the bullpen. It was much too erratic."

The parent Twins took a step to remedy the situation late Sunday by releasing veteran left-hander Brian Forystek. Right-hander Josh Hill, a 24-year-old Australian, will fill the vacancy.

"Our bullpen has to step up," Ingram said. "Somebody down there has to want that ball."

The skipper displayed his lack of faith in the bullpen Friday when he stuck with starter Ryan Mullins longer than he would have liked. Mullins weakened in the seventh and the Rock Cats lost, 5-4, the first of three consecutive one-run defeats in Bowie.

Now, with the team back home for a five-game, four-day visit from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Ingram is confident the Rock Cats can get back on track as the season's midpoint nears.

"Our field coordinator Joel Lepel is a big stickler on it's not how you start, it's how you finish," Ingram said. "That's what's going to determine your destiny. It's time for these guys to step up and we're making moves. We made a move today and who knows when it will stop. Guys are getting the ball. We're giving them the opportunity."

HILL'S CLIMB: Hill has paid his dues at high Class A. Including this season, the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has spent parts of four seasons with Fort Myers.

Hill is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 17 games with the Miracle this year. His first 13 were in relief but he joined the starting rotation for the last four turns. As a starter, he's 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA. Out of the pen, he's 0-2 with a 4.43.

Last year, he pitched in 33 games, 20 in relief, compiling a 6-6 record to go with a 4.88 ERA.

Ingram was looking for Forystek, 28, to provide some leadership out of the bullpen, but he was subject to huge swings. He was 1-1 with a save and a 4.73 ERA in 16 games for New Britain, three as a starter.

Forystek's first two games of the season reflected his rollercoaster ride here. On April 10, he pitched hitless ball for 2 1/3 innings while striking out four and walking none. Three days later, he walked five and yielded two hits and two runs in 1 2/3 frames.