When Ryan Rowland-Smith got back to his hotel room last night after being hammered for a club-record-tying 11 runs, he was afraid he couldn’t speak – so he texted some friends and family members.

“I knew my voice would break,” he said today.

Eventually, he risked actual phone calls. Who did he call?

“The whole phone book,” he said. “I talked to my mum in Australia, and a lot of people called or texted. My mum’s approach was telling me than when I write my autobiography – when I’m 35 and well into my career – this will make an interesting chapter.”

On the disabled list with a strained back, Rowland-Smith said he’d pitched through ‘niggling’ little injuries for most of the season, as most pitchers do. Last night, after getting through five innings without much of an arsenal,

“It doesn’t matter how you feel out there, you want to compete,” Rowland-Smith said. “When I came out of the game my back was tight, and I asked for treatment. I got it. As soon as I can, I’ll start working again.

“I got a call from Rich Dorman, the pitching coach in Everett who’s known me my whole career. I got a lot of support last night, and I needed it.  This season, things just snowballed out of control. I will come out of this.”