NOTEBOOK

Spikes reliever expects bigger second half

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — The first half of Brandon Holden's season can be described in one word.

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“Zeroes,” fellow reliever Alan Knotts shouted across the State College Spikes clubhouse Sunday night.

It’s been that kind of summer for Holden.

The right-hander has not allowed a run through 10 appearances. In fact, Holden has yielded just three hits.

“I’m just going out there and throwing strikes for the most part,” he said. “It’s nothing really special. I’m not striking out a lot of guys. I’m putting the ball over the plate and letting them hit it.”

Holden, 21, has more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). But he expects the total to change during this season’s second half.

A break between the end of extended spring training and the start of the New York-Penn League season decreased Holden’s velocity. Holden was touching 95 mph before the Spikes headed north in June. His fastball now sits in the high-80s and touches the low-90s.

“It has nothing to do with injury,” Holden said. “I was used to doing something everyday and we had a break. I didn’t do anything, came here and I didn’t throw in a game for two weeks.”

Holden, who ices his arm even after games he doesn’t pitch, said he feels closer to regaining the velocity he displayed during the spring.

“I’m learning to get some life on my arm back and working on new stuff everyday,” he said.

Holden, a 13th-round draft pick from Douglas (Fla.) High School in 2006, is relishing his time with the Spikes. He spent his first three professional summers working at the Pirates’ spring training complex in Bradenton, Fla.

He went 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA during 522/ 3 innings in the rookie Gulf Coast League the past two summers.

“Being in Florida for 21/ 2 years was pretty brutal,” he said. “But I needed it. It makes

me appreciate this up here that much more.”

Holden has worked exclusively in one-inning roles this summer. He pitched on consecutive nights for the second time when he worked Friday against Mahoning Valley and Saturday against the Muckdogs.

“Brandon has done a great job,” pitching coach Mike Steele said. “He has been down south for the last three years and now he’s starting to get accustomed to the lights. He has an electric arm. His velocity is going to be back up by the end of the summer. He goes at guys. He’s not afraid.”

Brolsma rejoins the Spikes

The Spikes received another bullpen arm Sunday when right-hander Owen Broslma joined the team.

Brolsma, a 48th-round pick from Texas Tech in 2008, started this year at full-season West Virginia, where he went 0-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 37 innings. Brolsma, who went 0-3 with a 10.01 ERA in State College last summer, hasn’t pitched since June 28.

Brolsma joins Knotts and Mike Williams as one of three 2008 Spikes in the current bullpen.

Trade talk

Outfielder Shane Peterson and pitcher Clayton Mortensen, two of the prospects the St. Louis Cardinals used to acquire outfielder Matt Holliday from the Oakland Athletics last week, played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as members of the Batavia Muckdogs.

Peterson played here last year while Mortensen pitched against the Spikes in 2007.

“You try to explain to these guys there’s always something to play for,” Batavia manager Mark DeJohn said. “You might not think your position is open in St. Louis, but positions in other places that are open. The big leagues in Oakland is better than Triple- A in St. Louis.”

The Cardinals used former Spikes reliever Luke Gregerson earlier this year to acquire infielder Khalil Greene from the San Diego Padres.

Guy Cipriano can be reached at 231-4643.