Jul 3, 2015 4 min read

The Wild Things made the Frontier League playoffs last season largely on the strength of its bullpen as relief pitchers Jonathan Kountis, Matt Purnell, Pat Butler and Al Yevoli combined for 12 wins and 35 saves. They were the reason why Washington had a 49-0 record when leading after seven innings.

The Wild Things’ current group of relief pitchers is beginning to look a lot like last season’s dominant foursome and manager Bob Bozzuto believes two of his late-inning stalwarts, right-handers Purnell and Richie Mirowski, should be selected for the Frontier League All-Star Game later this month in Schaumburg, Ill.

Purnell has a 1-0 record, three saves and a 0.93 ERA. Opponents are batting only .218 against Purnell, who recently had a string of 15 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run. Mirowski, who pitched last year for the Harrisburg Senators, the Class AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals, has struck out 32 batters in only 20 1/3 innings and has a 1.32 ERA.

“We have a very talented group in the bullpen,” Bozzuto said. “Matt Purnell has done everything for us. He’s pitched the sixth, seventh or eighth innings and he’s closed some games this year. Mirowski, his stuff is just nasty.”

Washington also has Tim Giel (1-2, 1.23) , who has allowed only one earned run in his last 10 outings, Steve Messner (0-1, 1 save, 1.50) and Kountis at the back end of the bullpen. Kountis was recently re-acquired in a trade with Kanas City of the American Association. With the Wild Things last year, Kountis set the Frontier League single-season record with 32 saves.

“Once we get through five innings with the lead, we’re in great shape,” Bozzuto said.

Washington’s bullpen will be put to the test today after Friday night’s game against Joliet was suspended because of rain in the top of the second inning with the Wild Things leading 1-0. First baseman Sam Mende hit a home run in the bottom of the first. The game will be resumed at 4:35 p.m. and will be followed by a seven-inning contest.

Tim Flight started on the mound for Washington but will turn the game over to the bullpen this afternoon. That means lefty Tyler Ferguson (0.00 ERA in 10 innings), a rookie out of La Roche College, or right-hander Joe Iorio (0-0, 19 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings) could get an extended outing. If they do, the goal will be to take a lead into the sixth inning.

“We’re very fortunate. On any given night, we can put any guy in our bullpen out there to close a game,” Bozzuto said.

Purnell and Mirowski, though they have combined to give Washington a solid 1-2 right-handed option, have divergent backgrounds. While Mirowski was a highly regarded prospect and pitched in the prestigious Arizona Fall League in 2013, Purnell was off the scouting radar as a pitcher at Eastern Connecticut State University, an NCAA Division III school.

Purnell’s career didn’t exactly take off until his senior year in 2013, when he had nine saves and struck out 51 batters in less than 40 innings. It wasn’t enough to get drafted, so Purnell returned to school for a semester and earned a degree.

An ECSU alum, who had played for former Wild Things manager Bart Zeller in Joliet, put in a good word for Purnell and Zeller invited him to Wild Things spring training last year. Purnell made the opening day roster and got better with each outing, eventually pitching many important innings during the playoff drive. He had a 5-2 record in 42 games and a 3.23 ERA, which were impressive numbers for a guy still learning how to pitch.

“In college, I had a good fastball and pretty good control, so not often did I have to throw my slider, which was a spotty pitch and I couldn’t always throw it for a strike. I just threw the fastball past hitters,” Purnell said. “Through a lot of hard work, my slider has gotten better.”

Before arriving at spring training as rookie, Purnell trained at an academy in California. Some professional players there saw Purnell’s potential and offered some sage advice. They told him to throw low and believe in your stuff.

“The game was a lot faster than I expected last year,” Purnell said. “It was hard to settle down and think about what you’re doing and throwing. As you gain experience, you feel more comfortable about what you’re doing. I’m wiser this year, I’m more experienced and our defense has helped me.”

Purnell, like his manager, likes the potential of the Washington’s relief pitchers.

“I think this group is as good, if not better, than year,” he said.