Blair executes in longest career start

When a pitcher is in complete control, opposing batters do whatever they can to put a dent in the stellar start. For hitters facing Aaron Blair on Sunday, it was all they could do to squeak an unearned run by.

The D-backs' third-ranked prospect allowed five hits while striking out a season-high nine in 7 2/3 innings as Double-A Mobile edged Birmingham, 4-3, on Sunday at Hank Aaron Stadium.

"I had three good pitches that I could throw at any time, made big pitches when I needed to and had good defense behind me," he said. "I was making pitches and if they hit it hard, they hit it right at somebody. I was throwing the pitches right where I needed to. I forced a lot of soft contact and I missed a lot of bats."

Blair allowed a leadoff single to Jacob May in the first, but settled in to retire the next 12 Barons. MLB.com's No. 76 overall prospect gave up back-to-back singles to Danny Hayes and Brian Fletcher in the fifth and a leadoff knock to Christian Marrero in the seventh, but continued to execute pitches to avoid walks and runs.

"When it was time to throw a put-away pitch, I was able to throw it where I needed to and when I needed to. I was able to keep them off balance for nearly eight innings," Blair said. "Throwing the right pitch at the right time in the right spot makes or breaks a game. I think this is my first game all year where I didn't have a walk. So looking at that, it was a good, successful day for me."

Not only was it Blair's first game without a free pass, but it was also just his second start in his last six chances in which he didn't allow a home run.

"I kept the ball down, and sometimes when you give up home runs, guys just beat you, not necessarily that you're throwing bad pitches," he said. "I was able to keep guys off balance and throw offspeed in fastball counts. I feel like that helps me a lot."

In the eighth, Joey DeMichele smacked a leadoff double, but the 22-year-old right-hander induced two quick groundouts. No. 15 White Sox prospect Jacob May then hit a ground ball to shortstop Sean Jamieson, who made a throwing error that allowed the leadoff runner to score.

"It was a really tough play for my shortstop. [May] hit it up the hole and [Jamieson] made a nice play to get to it," the starter said. "Whether he makes the play or not, it would've been a bang-bang play at first base, so he did what he could, it just so happened to go the wrong way for him."

After throwing 99 pitches -- 65 for strikes -- in his longest career outing innings-wise, Blair exited with two outs in the eighth. But after Adam Miller (1-1) took over, the Barons added two more runs in the ninth to tie the game.

In the home half of the frame, D-backs No. 15 prospect Socrates Brito led off with a single to left. The right field prospect moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Todd Glaesmann and third on a wild pitch by Nolan Sanburn (0-2) -- Chicago's No. 12 prospect. Then Mitch Haniger -- Arizona's No. 21 prospect -- hit a walk-off single to left to end a two-game skid. Blair was already in the clubhouse doing his postgame workout, but was soon greeted by his happy teammates.

"It's always good to get a win and a walk-off win doesn't come every day, so it's pretty special to be around," he said.