Crick in control proves hard to hit

Keeping walks down is a big deal for Kyle Crick. When he limits them, he can be dominating on the mound. He provided plenty of evidence of that with Wednesday's start.

The Class A Augusta right-hander turned in seven shutout innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out seven as the GreenJackets fell in 10 innings to the Rome Braves, 7-6.

It was the most innings he had thrown while issuing three free passes or fewer since another one-hit seven-inning performance, his June 7 start against Greensboro that featured 10 strikeouts and just one walk.

"That's what I focus on every game, cutting the walks in half," said the 19-year-old. "I want to make people hit the ball at least, so I'm pretty satisfied with [tonight]. I'd really like to issue two or less a game."

This year is Crick's first full season of professional baseball after the Giants drafted him with the 49th overall pick in last year's Draft.

San Francisco's No. 13 prospect said he's learned a lot this year and has adjusted to the challenges or pro ball.

"I'm learning more than I ever have in baseball, mainly from my catcher, Jeff Arnold," he said. "He calls all my games and I rarely ever shake him off. He's a veteran guy, knows what to call. Helps me get ahead in counts [and] know when to throw a slider and not throw a slider. He knows all that and it's a big part of the game."

Despite the walks -- he'd walked four or more batters in five of his previous six starts before Wednesday -- Crick has still proven difficult to hit for South Atlantic League lineups. In his last four starts he's allowed just one earned run on nine hits in 23 innings, going 2-0 with a sparkling 0.39 ERA in those outings.

"Locating my fastball, that's the biggest thing. If I can throw that, I can have these kinds of starts," the Texas native noted. "If that [can lead to] two or less walks an outing, that would be satisfying."

The 6-foot-4 hurler has put together a dominant overall line in his freshman season. He's brought his ERA down to a league-leading 2.47 in 87 1/3 innings over 18 starts while striking out 97, tied for 10th-best in the league, for a strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio of 10.

With 59 free passes for a 6.1 walks-per-nine innings ratio, though, he knows improved command will be necessary for him to repeat his success as he climbs the San Francisco organizational ladder.

"I wish I could have cut them in half," he said, reflecting on the year he's had so far, "but I can't do anything about it now. Just keep working at it."

On Wednesday, Garrett Buechele led the GreenJackets offensively, driving in a pair of runs.

Tony Mueller's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth tied it for Rome, and Ryan Query followed it up with a game-winning RBI single in the 10th.