After winding journey, IronPigs' Loewen thriving as a closer

ALLENTOWN - The Phillies demoted Adam Loewen to double A in May. The former first-round pick had turned 31 a month earlier. He had not pitched in the big leagues in seven seasons. Now Loewen could not even hang at triple A.

"It was a wake-up call," Loewen said.

Loewen had walked 20 batters in 171/3 innings before being sent to Reading. His low point was a 19-pitch outing in which he threw just three strikes. The pitcher's mission was to simply throw strikes.

Loewen was tinkering with his mechanics before a game against Altoona with Rafael Chavez, the organization's pitching coordinator. He helped Loewen alter the way he moves his leg during his delivery. The change added 2 m.p.h. to the lefthander's fastball, which now tops out at 95 m.p.h. (He also throws a curveball and a change-up.)

"I knew I was going to stick with that," Loewen said. "Then I could stop thinking about mechanics and start thinking about what I'm trying to do. I just started pitching and I was throwing strikes. It kind of built from that. The momentum started building."

Loewen returned to triple-A Lehigh Valley in June. IronPigs manager Dave Brundage wasted little time plugging him in as the closer. All but one of Loewen's 17 appearances have been scoreless. He has been lights-out, with a 1.69 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 211/3 innings.

Most important has been his control. Loewen has thrown 68 percent of his pitches for strikes. He has walked just five batters since returning from double A. Brundage said the pitcher's performance has been "night and day."

"I knew I wasn't getting sent down because I was pitching really poorly. It was because they knew I had so much more in there. That's the way I took it," Loewen said. "I knew I had a lot more in the tank. My confidence was never shot. I knew what I was capable of. It was just a matter of finding it."

Baltimore drafted Loewen with the fourth overall pick in 2002. At the time, it was the highest a Canadian had ever been drafted. He reached the majors four years later. He started developing arm troubles in 2008. Loewen said his arm failed him. The pitcher had a stress fracture in his elbow.

The injury drove him to become a position player. He was released by Baltimore and latched on with Toronto, where he transitioned to the outfield. Loewen spent three seasons in Toronto's minor-league system before joining the Blue Jays in September 2011. He spent the next two seasons drifting in the minor leagues as an outfielder. The former top prospect found himself jobless before the 2014 season. He wanted to keep playing. It was time to pitch again.

He threw bullpen sessions for several teams near his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Phillies were the only one that offered him a chance. Loewen signed in April 2014. For the first time in six years, he was a full-time pitcher.

"It's been a roller coaster," Loewen said. "But I've been pretty resilient. I still love this game more than anything. I think what I found out about myself is how much I love this game and how much time and effort I put into it. I want to see it through."

Brundage called on Loewen on Wednesday night to close out a three-run game against Toledo. The pitcher needed just six pitches to retire three straight batters. The last batter struck out. Loewen met his catcher near home plate for a casual embrace. Just another save for the dominant closer who is pitching out of the bullpen for the first time in his career.

Loewen declined an invitation last month to pitch for Team Canada in the Pan Am Games. It was the first time he ever turned down a chance to play for his country. He said everything was just starting to go his way. It was better to stay. A major-league promotion could be in his future. Loewen is staying patient.

"I just focus on pitching one day at time. I know it's a cliche, but that's really all I think about," Loewen said. "Thinking about call-ups is how you end up [messing up] when you're out there."

Though he is not thinking about a possible promotion, Loewen said he's certainly ready if the call does come. The pitcher will be excited, but not overwhelmed. Two months ago, Loewen could not hang in triple A. Now it looks as if triple A can not hang with him.

"I've been blessed to have two second chances," Loewen said. "I just feel really lucky to be in this game."