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Brosius spins six hitless frames in Rome win

Braves prospect gives up unearned run with four walks, one strikeout
June 7, 2014

Against Greenville on Friday night, Rome's Tyler Brosius did not resemble a pitcher making his third career start.

The Braves prospect -- who has 29 relief appearances to his name -- churned out six hitless innings, notching one strikeout and four walks. He was charged with an unearned run in the fifth, but the Braves kept the Drive from producing anything more in a 6-1 home win.

"I kind of noticed it in the third," Brosius said. "I saw the zero up there and I was like, 'Geez, wow, I haven't given up a hit yet. Usually, I've given up four.' Just a good night. It was a great night."

Brosius (1-3) threw a wild pitch and hit a batter in the Class A South Atlantic League outing as he lowered his ERA to 4.36.

"The fastball, that's probably about 80 percent all I threw tonight," he said. "The curveball wasn't really working. I have a naturally strong changeup, it's like 88 mph. But I mean, the fastball was just, I felt good with it and just rocked and fired all night.

"I just had to throw those fastballs in there. Fortunately enough, they didn't hit any."

The 2013 21st-round pick began the fifth by issuing a free pass to Wendell Rijo. After Brosius got Kendrick Perkins to fly out, Rijo stole second while the pitcher dealt with Jimmy Rider, who also walked.

With two on and one out, Jordan Weems hit a grounder to second baseman Ross Wilson, who flipped to shortstop Johan Camargo. Camargo released an errant throw that allowed Weems to reach and Rijo to score.

"That's on me," Brosius said. "Four walks tonight, I mean, that shouldn't happen in any game at all.

"It was unearned, but I felt like it was earned, just by giving up walks. I can't do that, especially the higher up I go. I can't be doing that. I'm not really disappointed. It was a double-play ball, just had a mistake. It's no big deal. And we ended up coming out on top."

The 22-year-old right-hander also handed out walks to Carlos Asuaje in the first and Tzu-Wei Lin in the fourth. Asuaje came up after Lin reached and grounded into a double play.

With two outs in the third, Brosius beaned Forrestt Allday, who was promptly caught trying to steal second by catcher Victor Caratini.

"We had a great defense out there tonight," Brosius said. "There was a lot of good plays that saved that no-hitter. It was just a magical night. Just in the first inning, there were two well-struck balls that just found some gloves.

"I felt good all night. The arm felt great. It was just a good night for Rome baseball, that's for sure."

The North Carolina native has made back-to-back starts. On May 31, he came away with a no-decision after allowing one run in five innings at Savannah. His first start came on May 16, when he took the loss after surrendering four runs -- three earned -- across 3 2/3 innings at Greensboro.

"As long as I'm throwing, I'm happy, man," Brosius said. "And wherever they want me and feel like I can be the best and progress, then that's what I'm going to do. I put a lot of trust in the guys in the organization.

"[Pitching coach] Gabe Luckert has really helped me out a lot. ... I think big things are coming, and Gabe Luckert's a big man I can thank for that."

Jacob Schrader led Rome with three hits and Carlos Franco drove in three runs. Franco, Camargo and Connor Oliver each had two hits, with Camargo, Caratini and Ross Wilson picking up the other RBIs.

Mark Emery is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Emery.