TRENTON- Matt Wotherspoon may not be the most well known Trenton player, but he may be just as important to the success of the team in 2016 as any of his teammates. Everyone has raved about the Thunder's pitching staff at the commencement of the 2016 campaign, and it is the starters that have received the bulk of the...
TRENTON- Matt Wotherspoon may not be the most well known Trenton player, but he may be just as important to the success of the team in 2016 as any of his teammates.
Everyone has raved about the Thunder's pitching staff at the commencement of the 2016 campaign, and it is the starters that have received the bulk of the attention. But there are eight other pitchers on the roster that may play a big part on any given night, especially early in the year, when pitch counts may come into play.
Tuesday night, as the Thunder (3-2) hosted the Portland Sea Dogs (3-3) in the second of a three-game set, those relievers were called on to throw four innings after Jordan Montgomery exited. Giovanny Gallegos threw two innings of scoreless relief, to keep the Thunder in the game, before a Dante Bichette Jr. home run tied the score.
But it was the visitors that finally got to the Thunder bullpen in the top of the 10th inning, as Tim Roberson cleared the bases with a two-out double, in the Sea Dogs 6-3 win.
Wotherspoon is one of those eight relievers that will see time, but that number will swell with roster moves. He came in to pitch Monday night, in relief of Dietrich Enns. Wotherspoon threw 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits, and picked up his first win of the year for the Thunder.
"They told me when I got up here that I was probably going to be the long guy, as of right now" Wotherspoon said. "As far as the league goes, I am not usually too focused on what other hitters are doing."
"Obviously, some hitter have tendencies, but I am focused on pitching to my strengths, and doing what I do best," Wotherspoon said. "Filling up the strike zone, attacking hitters, and trying to get outs."
Wotherspoon has allowed just one hit so far in 2016, in 4.2 innings of work, and is one of five Trenton relievers to allow one run or less in their appearances (Gallegos, Mark Montgomery, Evan Rutckyj, Caleb Smith). The five have only allowed seven hits in 16.2 innings of work over five games.
"Obviously it is nice to pitch with a lead," Wotherspoon said. "But like I said, I am not changing too much of how I pitch. It is always 0-0 in my head. But obviously, when I came in Monday with a 4-0 lead, I am trying to throw strikes, pump the zone, and fill it up fastballs, stay aggressive, and attack the hitters."
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Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell saw Wotherspoon for the first time this spring, and is glad that Wotherspoon's form has followed him north.
"He was solid in the spring," Mitchell said. "He opened my eyes. When I watched him, every time he went out there in the spring, he was effective. That was my opinion.
"He has been completely dominating, the two outings he has been here," Mitchell said. "Every time I have seen him out there, he has done really well. And you know what I like? His demeanor. His demeanor out there is so calm, and it is nice to see as a manager. Even if he was to give up a couple of hits, he settles down, and he knows how to pitch.
"He has done a fantastic job since I have seen him, and I am so happy to have him, to tell you the truth," Mitchell said.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean