Shuckers' Lopez sharp through six innings

After reaching the Major Leagues to finish an impressive 2015 season, Jorge López couldn't figure things out with Triple-A Colorado Springs last year and was eventually sent to Double-A Biloxi to right the ship.
Back with the Shuckers to begin this year, the Brewers' No. 13 prospect is making a case for another crack at the next level. 

The right-hander tied a career high with 10 strikeouts while scattering two hits with a walk over six innings to help Biloxi to a 1-0 win over Pensacola on Friday.
In his first five starts this season, Lopez (2-1) has a 1.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 26 innings. In 17 games, including 16 starts, with the Sky Sox last year, he was 1-7 with a 6.81 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 79 1/3 frames. 
Box score
"In Colorado Springs, I couldn't get my curveball and my off-speed to spin that much, especially with the elevation," he said. "That was one of the most difficult parts of last year. But it helped me because I learned how to pitch and had to rely on my other pitches.
"Now, I have to take this confidence I'm building this year and just use it to attack the hitters no matter where I am."
Lopez surrendered a double in each of the first two innings, but he escaped both early jams with strikeouts.
"In the beginning of the game, I had a little bit of trouble with my timing and controlling my fastball," Lopez said. "But I was able to trust my stuff and made a couple of good pitches to get out of trouble."
The 24-year-old cruised after that, retiring the side in order in each of the next three innings. He needed just seven pitches to get through the third. 
"My curveball was awesome today," said the native of Puerto Rico, who was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA with Milwaukee two years ago. "I was going backdoor against the lefties and down and away against righties. I have the ability to throw my breaking ball for strikes and getting strikeouts with it, but it all comes back to fastball command."
Lopez was also the recipient of some great defenseive plays, none more impressive than second baseman Mauricio Dubón taking away a hit from Josh VanMeter in the fourth. 
With Biloxi ahead after a passed ball by Adrian Nieto allowed Blake Allemand to score in the first, Lopez lined a double off Pensacola starter Luis Castillo (1-1) leading off the fifth. Lopez was erased at home for the second out of the inning when Allemand reached on a fielder's choice. 

"I love to swing," Lopez said. "He threw me a slider on 0-2 and hung it a little bit and I just put a good swing on it and put it down the third-base line. It's not every day you see a pitcher get a double, so the other team was surprised and I love that. It pumps up my team a little bit when they see I'm giving 100 percent."
A one-out walk to Alex Blandino ended Lopez's run of 12 straight outs in the sixth, but the 2011 second-round pick rebounded by retiring the last two hitters, finishing with his 10th strikeout. 

"I want to be the type of guy who's tough mentally and battles every pitch," Lopez added. "I've been concentrating on my delivery and trusting every one of my pitches. That's what's on my mind right now."

Josh Uhen took over in the seventh and allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings before Matt Ramsey came on and gave up a hit with one strikeout to finish the shutout.