LYNX GET HAMMEL-ED, BUT BRITO MIGHT RESTORE A BIT OF BRIO

Nothing against Bubba Nelson, the new Lynx righty, but tonight's 8-0 loss vs. Durham (boxscore, play-by-play) underscored the club's pitching problems.

Nelson, who gave up five runs (including three homers) over five innings, is the tenth starting pitcher John Russell has used this season. Durham, which got a five-hit shutout tonight from righty Jason Hammel today, has used the same five starters through the first 51 games, which is crazy.

The return of Eude Brito (3.17 ERA in 147 innings for Scranton in '06) couldn't be more perfectly timed. Brito was stuck in the bullpen before he went on the DL in April, but since then Matt Childers has gone down with a sore knee and Brian Mazone has signed with a team in Korea. The Lynx (22-25) need starters and Brito's got a good Triple-A track record.

J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.37) throws tomorrow vs. Durham's J.P. Howell (3-4, 4.29) in an all-lefty, all-initials pitching matchup.