![]() Tyler Cloyd had a 33-21 record in the Minor Leagues entering 2012. (Ken Inness/MiLB.com )
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Cloyd allowed three runs on six hits over six innings, but his offense provided enough run support to help him pick up his Minor League-leading 15th win in the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs' 5-3 win over the Rochester Red Wings.
It marked the first time Cloyd -- who issued three walks and fanned three batters -- has allowed three runs or more in consecutive starts since he was with the Double-A Reading Phillies in June.
Cloyd faced one batter over the minimum in the first two innings, but the Red Wings halved Lehigh Valley's 2-0 lead in the third frame on Clete Thomas' two-out RBI double to right field.
Cloyd worked around Evan Bigley's leadoff walk in the fourth, but he was not so fortunate in the fifth when Thomas doubled to left field to plate Brian Dinkelman from first base. The inning could have been even more trouble for Cloyd, but Rene Rivera -- who was hit by a pitch to start the inning -- was thrown out trying to steal second.
Rochester struck again for a third run an inning later on the strength of two singles and a sacrifice bunt, but the host IronPigs scored three times in the bottom of the inning to put Cloyd in line for his 15th win.
Class A Advanced Modesto's Christian Bergman ranks second with the Minors with 14 victories. He had chances to pick up No. 15 on Aug. 2 in Visalia and again on Aug. 8 at home to Rancho Cucamonga, but he left without a decision in both games. The right-hander will look to match Cloyd's feat when he faces the Rawhide again Tuesday night.
Selected by the Phillies in the 18th round of the 2008 Draft out of Bellevue East High School in Bellevue, Neb., Cloyd is putting up MVP-like numbers across the two levels.
After going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four Eastern League starts with Reading, Cloyd -- who pitched for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League following the 2011 season -- has produced similar results in the International League. His 12 wins are second-most only to Zach Duke, who has 13 with Syracuse.
Across the two classifications, Cloyd is 15-1 -- the best winning percentage among all qualified starters -- with 107 strikeouts and 37 walks over 154 innings.
His 2.16 ERA is second on the circuit to Rochester's Liam Hendriks, while his 0.98 WHIP is third behind Pawtucket's Justin Germano (0.90) and Hendriks (0.95).
Cloyd turned a 5-3 lead over to the bullpen in the seventh and the trio of Jake Diekman, Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont no-hit the Red Wings the rest of the way. Third baseman Pete Orr finished 4-for-4 with a solo homer, two stolen bases and two runs scored in the win.
Right-hander Shairon Martis (2-2) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three batters over eight innings in the losing effort.
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