Mella pitches 6 2/3 shutout innings

Having faced Modesto only six days ago, Keury Mella had a pretty good idea what to expect when he stepped out of the dugout Tuesday night. And even though the Nuts had seen as much of him as he had of them, it was the San Jose fireballer who made the changes needed to win the rematch.

The Giants' No. 2 prospect gave up three hits and a walk while striking out four batters over 6 2/3 innings in Class A Advanced San Jose's 2-0 win over Modesto at Municipal Stadium.

"I felt great and I made the adjustments I needed to tonight," Mella said through hitting coach Lipso Nava, who translated. "My best pitch was the changeup and that was keeping the hitters off-balance, and obviously, I was able to throw my fastball where I wanted it. The thing that I was most pleased with tonight was that I had command of my pitches."

Mella won his second straight start and lowered his ERA to 3.06 in seven California League outings.

The 21-year-old did not allow a run for the first time this season. He gave up two unearned runs on Wednesday at Modesto and had yielded three runs or more in half of his previous six appearances.

"I already had a plan how to attack hitters because I faced them last Wednesday, so I had a plan and knew how to get them out, and I had the mind-set to attack them," said Mella, who also hit a batter. "Last outing, something didn't click and this time I had my mind-set right and I was more aggressive hitters tonight. I felt much better and ... the mentality was there and I kept to my plan."

A native of the Dominican Republic, Mella (2-1) worked a perfect first inning and pitched around a leadoff hit batter and a one-out walk to Rosell Herrera in the second. He rolled an inning-ending double play ball to erase Raimel Tapia's one-out single in the third and stranded Jordan Patterson after a two-out single in the fourth.

That began a string of seven consecutive outs before Rockies No. 18 prospect Correlle Prime singled leading off the seventh. Mella retired the next two batters before turning things over to the bullpen. He said there was no discussion about staying in the game.

"It was something they decided and I was fine with it," he said.

Ian Gardeck struck out the only hitter he faced to close the book on Mella's night and Ray Black worked a perfect eighth to keep the shutout intact. In the ninth, Prime hit a two-out single to left field and Patterson reached on shortstop Brandon Bednar's error to put the tying run on base. Daniel Slania struck out Herrera to complete the Giants' fourth shutout of the season and record his league-leading seventh save.

Hunter Cole went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored out of the No. 3 spot in the San Jose lineup, giving him 12 multi-hit games in 25 contests since being promoted from Class A Augusta on April 22.

"He's an aggressive hitter and his approach is up the middle," Nava said. "His bat is loud when he makes contact, it makes a different sound. Since he got here, he's kept his approach very consistent."

Modesto starter Johendi Jiminian (2-4) allowed a run on four hits and three walks while striking out two over 6 2/3 innings.