This just in; Andrew Painter can struggle just like any other pitcher. The top pitching prospect simply didn’t have his command Wednesday night in Charlotte and lasted just four innings, taking the loss as the IronPigs fell to the Knights 8-3.

The command on Painter’s four-seam fastball just wasn’t there, although the velocity was strong. His second four-seamer of the night reached 100 mph and was fouled off. After that, Painter was primarily around 98 with the fastball and as the game went on, his command did start to return, but not to its normal point.

Brooks Baldwin, the first hitter Painter faced on the night, took a four-seam fastball for ball one and then fouled off a cutter before swinging over a second cutter to make the count 1-2. Painter came back with a pair of curveballs that were fouled off before delivering the 100 mph fastball that was also fouled out of play. From there, Painter and catcher Garrett Stubbs agreed on a cutter – 90.1 mph – to change speeds against Baldwin, who hit it 330 feet to right field for his second home run in as many nights.

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In the bottom of the second, Painter gave up a triple and a double that both came on four-seam fastballs. He threw a 1-2 curveball to Andrew Lipcius, who hit it 367 feet to left field to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.

On the night, Painter threw 85 pitches in four innings, with 59 of the pitches – 69 percent – being for strikes. It was the second time this season that Painter has allowed two home runs in a game, with the other being on May 1st when he was pitching for Clearwater and allowed two longballs to Dunedin hitters.

The Bottom Line…

Nothing to be at all concerned about. Painter’s velocity was good and although he allowed runs in three of the four innings he pitched, it was just one of those nights. You have to remember that teams are getting to see video and talk to other hitters about what Painter is throwing and how he looks, so it’s not unusual that he may run into some struggles. Plus, every pitcher has nights where one or more of their pitches just aren’t working or the command just isn’t there.

As Painter matures, he will learn more about how to work hitters when he doesn’t have his best stuff. For now, it’s just all part of the progress of getting him some innings while at the same time, managing his innings.

Lehigh Valley returns home next week and it’s likely that Painter’s day will again be on Wednesday. Odds are that he returns to form.