Wilkerson named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

Photo is courtesy of Portland Sea Dogs

Portland, Maine - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has selected Portland Sea Dogs' starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 7th - April 17th, 2016.

Wilkerson went 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA ERA (1 ER/16.2 IP) in three starts this week, combining to allow just six hits while walking three and striking out 22.

Wilkerson started the Sea Dogs season opener on April 7th in Reading and worked 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, one walk, and striking out a career-high 11. His 11 strikeouts were also the most ever by a Sea Dog pitcher on Opening Day and the most by a Sea Dogs' starter since Brian Johnson fanned 12 on July 25, 2014.

In his second start, Wilkerson allowed one earned run on just one hit in a no-decision at Trenton, walking one and striking out six. In his third start at Hadlock Field against Hartford, he worked six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five.

Wilkerson currently leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (22) and WHIP (0.54), ranks second in opponents' average (.105), fourth in ERA (0.54), and third in innings pitched (16.2).

The Fort Worth, TX native was signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent out of the independent American Association on July 18, 2014. This is his third season in the Red Sox organization.

Since joining Portland late in the 2015 season, Wilkerson is 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA (13 ER/57.1 IP) in 10 starts, while allowing just 34 hits, 16 walks, and issuing 57 strikeouts. He's limited opponents to a .167 batting average against him and posted a 0.87 WHIP.

Wilkerson is the first winner of the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award in 2016. He also earned the honor for the week of August 17-23 last season and was the only Sea Dog in 2015 to earn a Pitcher of the Week award. This marks the third time in Wilkerson's career he's been named Pitcher of the Week; he also earned the award in the New York-Penn League for the week of 9/2/14.

KEITH COUCH NAMED EASTERN LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Portland, Maine - Portland Sea Dogs' Right-handed pitcher Keith Couch has been selected as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 12th through 18th.  Couch pitched two games for the Sea Dogs last week and had a record of 2-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA to earn the honor. 

Couch, who is a native of Elmont, New York, made his first appearance of the week on Tuesday night at Altoona and earned the win with seven strong innings in Portland's 5-2 victory.  He gave up one run on eight hits while striking out four batters and walking one.  Couch was even more impressive in his second appearance of the week on Sunday afternoon at Harrisburg, tossing a complete game six-hitter with four strikeouts and no walks while lifting Portland to a 2-1 win. It was the first nine-inning complete game by a Sea Dogs' pitcher since Charlie Zink on June 19th, 2007 at Connecticut.  It was the second complete game of Couch's professional career; he threw nine innings for the Salem Red Sox on July 25th of last year against Myrtle Beach. 

The 23-year old led all Eastern League pitchers in innings pitched (16.0) last week.  He also tied for the league lead in wins (2) and complete games (1) and tied for seventh in strikeouts (8).   On the season, Couch has appeared in 27 games (13 starts) for the Sea Dogs posting a 10-3 record with a 3.55 ERA.  He ranks ninth in the Eastern League in ERA and tied 2nd in Wins (10).

 Since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation in early June, Couch has a record of 7-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 13 games.  Couch was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2010 draft. 

Couch joins Chris Martin and Drake Britton as the only three Sea Dogs' to earn Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors this season.

The Sea Dogs begin a three game homestand on Monday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or order online at www.seadogs.com.

 Keith Couch's Pitching Line for the period of August 12-August 18, 2013

G	W	L	SV	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB	ERA
2	2	0	0	16.0	14	2	2	8	1	1.13

Keith Couch's Pitching Line for the 2013 Season

G	W	L	SV	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB	ERA
27	10	3	0	116.2	120	58	46	85	41	3.55