Tweak to mechanics working wonders for Belisle

DENVER -- A small mechanical adjustment has paid big dividends for veteran reliever Matt Belisle.

"We've been getting him on his back leg and creating a load," pitching coach Jim Wright said. "He was just leaving the rubber too soon. Then you get more arm, you lose your angle and your confidence and your focus. It was just getting him back on his back leg and getting him a chance to get everything on time again."

Belisle was 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in his first 12 appearances through April 26 with two walks, six strikeouts and 14 hits allowed in 11 innings. Since then, he had made five scoreless one-inning apperances entering Saturday, allowing two hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

As a result of the mechanical change, Belisle's velocity has increased to 93-94 mph, up from 89-91 mph earlier in the season and his curveball and slider are sharper.