On the surface, it wouldn’t appear too easy for the Saints to find any positives to take out of a 9-1 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Sunday at CHS Field. But another sign that starting pitcher Louie Varland is beginning to find his groove again was a legitimate reason for optimism.

Varland took the loss to drop his record to 3-8. He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out six while allowing four walks. Both he and pitching coach Pete Larson will take it.

Prior to Sunday, Varland had three outstanding starts following the low point of his season, when he allowed 11 earned runs on 11 hits over 2 1/3 innings against Toledo on June 23. The previous two games, he allowed a total of four hits in 11 2/3 scoreless innings.

“I’ve been really impressed with how, with the changes we’ve made, he’s bought in on them,” Larson said. “He’s really picked it up his last four (starts). It’s nice to get some momentum, and hopefully he can keep carrying that on and finish the season out strong.”

Larson said one of the changes has to do with Varland’s delivery — having a higher front side when he strides toward the plate to produce more leverage.

“It’s something we played around with last year, so we brought that back,” Larson said. “Maybe he slightly got away from it. It might not be the biggest thing, but it helps with consistency.

“And then a little shift on the rubber. He’s seen a little benefit from that, too.”

Asked about the work he is doing with Larson, Varland said, “I’m working on a couple pitches, but I’m pretty much the same pitcher I always have been.”

But, with better results than he was getting earlier in the season.

“His changeup is improving, and we’re seeing some really good life on his fastball, too,” Larson said. “He’s got a pretty good arsenal. Throughout his tenure, he has tried everything; he’s worked on and developed a lot of different pitches.

“I think it’s ironing the mix with the lineup that night for how we best use it.”

Varland said he is looking at the 11-run nightmare as what he hopes to be the turning point in his season. It could end up being a turning point in his career.

“That was the lowest of the low, result wise,” he said. “I don’t want to do that again.”

Larson played a role in helping Varland get through some dark days.

“You’ve got to sympathize and try to meet him where he’s at currently,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to be around Louie for a lot of years now and I’ve seen the whole progression. That
was a tough one, and we’ve looked at video, (pitch) usage — just trying to find something different.

“I think we just went back, when things were clicking and he was rolling last year, what were some of the things he was doing to help maximize that? At the end of the day it might not be those changes that made a difference, but it helped right the ship.”

While Sunday’s outing wasn’t as good as the three previous ones, the positives outweighed the negatives.

“You want to regain confidence, you want to see some success,” Larson said. “When he has success, he’s getting swings and misses, he’s using the fastball well and he’s showing good velocity, too.

“A combination of those things leads to being comfortable and more consistent outings.”

Varland was solid through the first four innings on Sunday, the only blemish coming on a solo home run to lead off the second inning. He struggled in the fifth after retiring the first two batters. A walk and a two-run home run gave the Storm Chasers a 3-1 lead.

Varland walked the next two batters but got out of the inning when shortstop Rylan Bannon made a diving stop on a hard hit ball over second base and threw to first for the out.

Larson noted that the walks came on a hot day when Varland’s pitch count was beginning to climb.

“I wouldn’t say it was it was wildness at all,” Varland said of the walks. “I think I was barely missing. I think they made an adjustment that last inning and weren’t swinging at pitches they normally would have swung at.”

Varland said he isn’t ready to proclaim that he is back to where he wants to be.

“I’m never satisfied,” he said. “There’s always room to grow.”

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