Fire Frogs' Wentz continues wizardry

Joey Wentz must be getting used to seeing zeros on the scoreboard.
The ninth-ranked Braves prospect scattered five hits over 6 2/3 innings in his fifth straight scoreless start as Class A Advanced Florida pulled away for an 11-3 victory over Clearwater on Saturday at Osceola County Stadium.

"I've had some really good catching lately," Wentz said. "I've been throwing to Brett Cumberland lately, he's been calling some really good games. The balls put in play, there's been some good plays behind me from the infielders and outfielders, and I've been able to make some good pitches myself. It's really a combination of everything."
Wentz (3-2) worked around Jose Gomez leadoff single and settled down to retire eight batters in a row before Raul Rivas singled with two outs in the third. Arquimedes Gamboa started the fifth with a double and Luke Williams followed with a single, but Wentz got Grenny Cumana to bunt into a forceout and retired Gabriel Lino on a fly ball to right before punching out Rivas.
Gameday box score
"My fastball was pretty good, I was able to command it pretty decently -- especially to righties," Wentz said. "I was able to use a few good changeups, so it was a combination of those two. I also got a few fortunate bounces my way on balls put in play. A few double plays, which made it a lot easier on me."
The 20-year-old recorded two quick outs in the sixth and worked past shortstop Riley Delgado's fielding error by fanning Jose Pujols for his fifth strikeout. Wentz retired the first two batters through the air in the seventh before giving way to Brandon S. White after 99 pitches, 67 for strikes.
It was the third consecutive contest in which he pitched into the seventh frame.
"Recently, I've been throwing fastballs early and getting early outs," Wentz said . "Tonight, I had a long inning in the fifth and they put a few guys in scoring position. But it's really getting quick outs, those one-, two-, three-pitch outs in those situations. It's nice to not have to go 20 pitches in every inning, and then you're kind of battling."

Wentz has been unscored upon since a June 13 contest against Brandenton in which he allowed one run on three hits over 2 1/3 frames after a month-long hiatus. Since then, he's rattled off 30 1/3 scoreless innings to reduce his ERA to 1.95. During his streak, he's issued only three walks while ringing up 21 strikeouts.
"I don't know if there's one thing I've really done differently," Wentz said. "I think trying not to throw too perfectly or throw to the black all the time. Just being aggressive and getting after the hitters early and having that mindset."
After missing more than a month with an undisclosed injury, it took only one game for Wentz to find his groove and get the streak going.
"It's just getting comfortable again on the mound and getting back into pitching shape," he said. "You can throw as much as you want and throw bullpens, but until you get back on the mound, you kind of forget what that feels like. Getting back out there and getting up and sitting down and getting up again, it's really just that."
Jared James went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, and Delgado picked up three hits for the Fire Frogs.