Loons' Wilborn fans career-high 12
The Dodgers prospect allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings as Great Lakes pummeled visiting Lansing, 11-0. He matched a franchise record by fanning 12 while walking one. The seven frames and 12 strikeouts were both career highs.
An 18th-round pick in the 2009 Draft, Wilborn was 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in eight starts for Rookie-level Ogden before his promotion to Great Lakes on Aug. 3. He was leading the Pioneer League with 58 strikeouts and a 2.06 ERA over 43 2/3 innings.
The 23-year-old left-hander won his first start for the Loons last Tuesday, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over 5 2/3 frames.
He was nearly untouchable in his first outing at Great Lakes' Dow Diamond on Sunday, striking out five of the first seven batters he faced.
Wilborn (2-0) walked Balbino Fuenmayor in the second inning and allowed his first hit to Kevin Ahrens in the fourth. Justin Jackson and Ahrens singled in the sixth, but Wilborn fanned designated hitter Brad Glenn to end the threat.
"Honestly, I didn't even know [about the record] until I got done and a couple of guys told me," Wilborn said. "But it's a great feeling and to be up there with [Victor Garate]. It's awesome. Getting ahead with the fastball was a big part of it, and obviously when your offense puts up runs like that, it makes it nice and easy to pitch."
The Loons jumped all over Lugnuts starter Ryan Tepera (9-6), scoring nine runs on 11 hits in three innings. Tepera, who saw his ERA rise from 3.37 to 3.97, struck out four and walked a pair.
Every Great Lakes batter had at least one hit, with six collecting two apiece. Rafael Ynoa and Brian Cavazos-Galvez both went deep, pushing the Loons into a tie with the Clinton LumberKings for the Midwest League lead in home runs with 106.
Great Lakes improved to 32-10 in the second half of the season -- 16-4 at home -- and lead the Eastern Division by 6 1/2 games.