Hannibal brought its A-team.

Butler didn't.

But instead of considering the 13-0 loss at the hands of the Missouri-based Cavemen Thursday night a disaster, BlueSox manager Jason Wuerfel sees it as an opportunity.

"The guys came out today and got their (butts) handed to them," Wuerfel said. "Everyone can be handshakes and high-fives when you're hitting home runs and you are up 20-0. Everyone's having fun then.

"But when you are backed into the corner, when things hit the fan, who's the team leader? What are you made of? That's what you find out," he added.

Wuerfel is interested in finding the answer to those questions. Luckily for him and his team, they won't have long to wait as Butler returns to Pullman Park tonight to host Lorain County (Ohio).

It might be the most important game of the season for the BlueSox.

The reasons for Tuesday's loss were no mystery.

After cruising through the first three innings, Butler starting pitcher Ben Rawding lost his control and began walking Cavemen.

The left-hander walked four in a four-run fourth inning for Hannibal, then walked a batter in front of a triple in the top of the fifth that forced his exit from the game.

Rawding walked seven in 4Z\c innings.

Wuerfel said his pitcher had a game plan early, but abandoned it at the first sign of trouble.

"Games like this are on me," Wuerfel said. "This was an overall failure of philosophy and execution, and that's my fault. If the players by now don't know what I want, that's my fault."

Hannibal drew 10 walks and pounded out 15 hits Thursday. The score could have been worse had the Cavemen not stranded 12 runners.

Meanwhile, Butler hitters were struggling just to reach base.

Some of that had to do with the performance of Hannibal pitcher Justin McGhee, who struck out three and gave up four singles in a complete-game shutout.

McGhee lowered his ERA to 1.43, mostly by challenging Butler's sluggish hitters with fastballs.

Butler lost three games in the span of 36 hour, is 1-6 after the All-Star break and is 14-19 overall.

The clock is ticking and Wuerfel is hoping his players will return today with renewed spirit and confidence.

"It's going to be too late real soon if we don't figure it out," Wuerfel said.

Notes: The loss was the worst in Butler's two-year history in the Prospect League. ... Butler High graduate Ryan Geibel made his pitching debut for the BlueSox, striking out one and allowing two hits and a run in one inning. ... Seneca Valley graduate and Pitt catcher Kevan Smith finds himself mired in his first slump of the season. Smith is 1-for-15 in his last five games but is batting .318 overall.

Hannibal 000 417 001 — 13 15 1Butler 000 000 000 — 0 4 1W: Justin McGhee 9 IP (3 K, 0 BB).

L: Ben Rawding 4Z\c IP (2 K, 7 BB).

Hannibal: Brooks Fiala 3B 1B 2-RBI, Shelby Anderson 3B 2B 2-1B 3-RBI, Gardner Richey 2B 1B RBI, Nick Roundtree 2B 3-RBI

Butler: Logan Uxa 2-1B