Wanted: Pitcher, left-handed or right-handed. Willing to start games or close them. Ability to stay healthy a must.

For the Butler BlueSox, finding healthy arms has been a challenge lately.

The club returned to Pullman Park Monday from a weeklong road trip with some fresh faces on the pitching staff because five old ones were sent home with arm ailments.

One of those new hurlers, Reed Tomlinson, got the start against Quincy (Ill.) After a shaky first inning, the right-hander from LaRoche College kept the BlueSox in the game, but Butler still dropped a 5-4 Prospect League decision to the Gems.

"When you lose five pitchers and three starters, it's definitely not easy," said Butler manager Jason Wuerfel. "We picked up three pitchers who I think can really help us."

Three of the pitchers lost for the season are Butler County products.

Butler native Brian Warheit is done for the season with an elbow injury. Warheit had an MRI and "it didn't look good," Wuerfel said.

Also lost for the summer are Seneca Valley graduate Derek Peluso and Mars graduate D.J. Cannon, both of whom complained of sore elbows when the team returned from its road trip.

"You know, we were feeling good, then we lost some guys and got some guys," Wuerfel said. "Now we have to find that jell again."

Despite a pitching staff in flux, Butler (6-9) had chances to win Monday.

Tomlinson, who signed Thursday, issued a walk, a single and another walk to the first three batters he faced to load the bases.

But Tomlinson minimized the damage, yielding just two runs in the frame.

"He had a point in the first inning where it could have been over," Wuerfel said. "It could have been nine runs and you're done in a third of an inning. You have to tip your cap to the kid, man. He settled down and focused in and battled."

Tomlinson cruised through the next three innings, allowing the BlueSox to take a 3-2 lead.

The big blows in the Butler rally were run-scoring triples by John Sulzicki and Logan Uxa.

Tomlinson got into trouble again in the fifth, surrendering a run and then loaded the bases again in the sixth with no outs when he was pulled.

Relief pitchers Corey Young and Max Vogel, who is listed on the roster as an outfielder, combined to pitch four innings of near spotless relief to keep the BlueSox within striking distance.

"Vogel has been a pleasant surprise," Wuerfel said. "His stuff is nasty."

Vogel, an Aliquippa High graduate, pitched sparingly at Winthrop (S.C.) College. Now the right-hander, who struck out two of the four batters he faced against Quincy, now figures prominently in Wuerfel's pitching plans.

So does Tomlinson and newly acquired Cameron Amstrud, who Wuerfel said will be the club's new closer.

Butler picked up Amstrud, who pitched for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee this spring, with the team bus on the way home from Illinois.

With the new pitchers, there is no margin for error.

"I don't want to say panic mode filling these spots, but it's a mad scramble," Wuerfel said.

Notes: The BlueSox paid tribute to Staff Sgt. Bryan Hoover of Lyndora, who was killed June 11 in Afghanistan, with a moment of silence before the game. The flag in center field also was at half-staff for Hoover, a Pennsylvania National Guard member who was on his fourth tour overseas and his first in Afghanistan.

Quincy 200 012 000 — 5 9 0Butler 120 000 010 — 4 7 2W: Steve Moranda 7Z\c IP (2 K, 1 BB).

L: Reed Tomlinson 5 IP (4 K, 3 BB).

Quincy (7-7): Trentt Copeland 2-1B, Vinnie Fayard 2-1B, John Lorenz 1B 2-RBI

Butler (6-9): Kevan Smith 2B, John Sulzicki 3B 2-RBI, Tyler Sciacca 2B, Logan Uxa 3B RBI, Zach Duggan RBI

Today: Quincy at ButlerRiver Rats 3, Sliders 2RICHMOND, Ind. — The Slippery Rock Sliders limited Richmond to one hit but still came up short in a loss Monday.The River Rats pitched a no-hitter against the Sliders Sunday in a 5-0 win.Richmond, which scored two runs in the first inning, plated the deciding run in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday.Jeremy Banks had a single, a double and two RBI for the Sliders (6-9) while Brian Davila had a single and scored both runs.Mark Allen Bounds was charged with the loss, allowing one run and no hits over three innings. He had replaced Sean Mahley, who allowed two runs on one hit but walked nine batters.