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With help from his catcher, Partch secures win over Great Lakes
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
DAYTON — A long time ago, Curtis Partch was a pitcher getting beat around almost every start. Catcher Devin Mesoraco was a player held back in extended spring training, expecting to go to rookie Billings, Mont.
That was in April and May.
Monday, Aug. 18, Partch picked up his second straight victory, allowing no runs and three hits over six innings, and Mesoraco whipped a line-drive home run in the second as the Dragons beat the Great Lakes Loons 4-1 at Fifth Third Field.
"I'm more consistent," said the 6-foot-5 Partch, who throws in the mid-90s. "And the team plays good defense behind me."
Jovanny Rosario was the second batter for the Loons, and after singling, he was thrown out easily by Mesoraco, who might not have done that earlier in the season when it was decided to send him to the Dragons rather than Billings.
Then, in the second, following an Andrew Lambo double, center fielder Justin Reed ran down a Brandon Taylor drive that Reed dove for and caught with his back to the plate just a few feet short of the warning track.
In the third inning, Dayton second baseman Jake Kahaulelio chased down a pop in short right field, catching the ball over his shoulder.
After that, Partch didn't need much help at all.
"He's just throwing strikes," Dragons manager Donnie Scott said. "He's got the stuff to do it. He's got to pitch to contact and not try to pitch around it."
Great Lakes did score an unearned run in the ninth off reliever Jeff Jeffords, who was as confounding to the Loons as was Partch, but three runs in the eighth — two on Neftali Soto's double — gave the Dragons plenty of room for error.
As for Mesoraco, maligned a bit when he first joined the Dragons on May 7 for his catching deficiencies, those are also becoming ancient memories.
"He's getting pretty good," Scott said of Mesoraco, the parent Reds' No. 1 draft choice last year. "He's the guy. He's going to make mistakes, but I'm pleased with his development. He's been making great adjustments."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157
or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
