Dash's Jaye debuts new changeup

Five days removed from his worst start in a month, Myles Jaye used a revamped changeup to slow down opposing hitters.

The White Sox prospect gave up two hits and struck out five in seven innings to earn the victory in Class A Advanced Winston-Salem's 6-2 defeat of Potomac on Thursday night at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium.

"Tonight was by far my best start in High-A. I wouldn't say of the season, but I had a lot working for me," Jaye said. "I've been working on a lot of stuff and it all came together for me."

Jaye (8-6), who works off a low- to mid-90s sinker and a slider he throws to righties and lefties, used his changeup to keep the Potomac lineup off balance.

"J.R. Perdew, my pitching coach, and I had been working on a new changeup two or three days ago, and it helped me throw it for a strike. It was a big success, I threw a lot of them tonight," he said. "[We were] just refining it. It's been there some games, some games it hasn't. I'm trying to make it more consistent so I can throw it every game. I want to be able to actually throw it during the game and not be scared to throw it, almost."

The native of Fayetteville, Ga., went seven innings for the third time in four starts and the fifth time this year, a feat he hadn't accomplished in his first two seasons. Jaye is up to 152 1/3 innings after topping out at 79 in 2012 and dealing with some elbow issues.

"It's really from putting in the work in the offseason, rehabbing that elbow that kind of flared up on me last season," he said.

In Jaye's last start Aug. 17 against Frederick, he gave up six runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings, but against the Nationals both of the hits against the right-hander were singles that he easily worked around.

"Obviously we're trying to become more consistent. It's frustrating when you have those rough outings, but you know you have to just bounce back," he said.

Thursday's strong performance gives the 21-year-old a dozen quality starts in 19 outings for the Dash.

"[The key is] just attacking the strike zone and getting those early contact outs," Jaye said. "I'm definitely looking for that as a sinkerball pitcher. When I'm able to do that, I'm able to get into the sixth or seventh inning and that's thanks to early contact outs."

Jaye's goals for the rest of the season are simple.

"I think I have two starts left. Hopefully, I'll be able to continue on what I did tonight and finish off the season strong," he said.

Kevan Smith paced the Dash with a two-run homer.