Preparation pays off for Fernandez

Raul Fernandez was looking to get back on track after his last start. On Wednesday, he looked like a completely different pitcher.

The Rockies prospect gave up a hit and a walk over six innings to lead the Rookie-level Casper Ghosts to a 7-0 blanking of the Ogden Raptors.

Fernandez (3-5) tied a career high with seven strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. He issued just one walk, five nights after yielding seven free passes in 4 2/3 innings against Orem.

"Last time, I pitched defensively," Fernandez said through a translator. "Tonight, I made more of a mental adjustment with my focus. I executed my plan to pitch ahead in the count."

The 21-year-old right-hander allowed a first-inning single to Joc Pederson and surrendered a leadoff walk to Joe Wingo in the fourth before retiring his final nine hitters.

"I was very happy that I had prepared so well for this start," Fernandez said. "I want to continue with my plan to create more consistency with my pitches. I need to keep throwing first-pitch strikes and work ahead in the count."

A converted catcher, Fernandez is in the middle of his first season in the United States after three years in the Dominican Summer League. Besides the change in environment, he's still figuring out how he can perform to the best of his ability.

"Raul's focus on the job led to good two-strike command," Ghosts pitching coach Craig Bjornson said. "Pitching is a learning process and Raul is starting to pick up on how to pitch."

Robert De La Cruz doubled twice and drove in three runs for Casper, which improved to 4-0 in the second half of the Pioneer League season.