Cloyd earns sixth win in gem for 'Pigs
The Phillies' 18th-rounder from 2008 improved to 6-0 overall this season with his third Triple-A win, holding Indianapolis to a run on three hits over seven innings in Lehigh Valley's 5-1 road win at Victory Field.
Cloyd, who turns 25 next week, struck out six and walked one to win his third straight start for the IronPigs since being promoted May 5 from Double-A Reading. He threw 69 of his 104 pitches for strikes and also hit a batter before B.J. Rosenberg worked the final two frames, allowing two hits.
Cloyd worked out of trouble in the first when he loaded the bases thanks to a single, walk and hit batter but struck out Jordy Mercer to end the frame. He settled in, retiring the next 13 batters, until the Indians finally broke through with a run in the sixth on Jake Fox's sacrifice fly.
Derrick Mitchell knocked home four of Lehigh Valley's runs, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the second off Indianapolis starter Jeff Locke, his third longball of the season. Cody Overbeck doubled, tripled and scored a pair of runs for the 'Pigs, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Cloyd began the season at Lehigh Valley -- he tossed six perfect innings in the IronPigs' season opener April 5 -- but was reassigned and went 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts in the Eastern League, striking out 20 in 25 innings. He returned to the International League a month later when he went seven frames to beat Syracuse on May 5. At Triple-A, he's allowed just two runs and has 17 strikeouts in 20 frames. Cloyd joins D-backs stud prospect Trevor Bauer and four others in a tie for the Minor League lead with six wins.
Locke (3-2) was charged with five runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss, ending his scoreless innings streak at 16.
Pirates top prospect Starling Marte missed his fourth straight game for Indianapolis and remains day-to-day with a hand injury.
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com.