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Tepesch two-hits Drillers for seven

Rangers prospect has yielded six runs over past five outings
August 17, 2012
Nick Tepesch has a philosophy that sounds simple enough. Enacting it is more complex.

"Make pitches on my terms," he said. "Not on the hitter's."

Imposing his will on Tulsa on Friday night, the Rangers prospect allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in the Double-A RoughRiders' 5-1 win over the visiting Drillers.

The victory completed sweeps of the three-game and season series.

"They were swinging pretty early in the count and were pretty aggressive," Tepesch said. "I was throwing my breaking ball -- slider first pitch -- pitching backwards, staying aggressive in the zone, making my pitches."

Tepesch (6-2) gave up a pair of singles -- to Michael Mitchell leading off the game and Ben Paulsen leading off the second -- while striking out five and recording 10 outs on the ground. Thanks to three double plays and his own pickoff maneuver, the 24-year-old right-hander faced one over the minimum 21 batters before exiting. He needed only 78 pitches to get through seven innings.

"When I got a runner out on first base and less than two outs, that's the goal -- get a ground ball," Tepesch said. "I was able to make good pitches down in the zone."

The 2010 14th-round Draft pick also said he enjoyed command of each of his offerings, particularly his changeup, curveball and slider.

His repertoire also was in rare form not too long ago: Tepesch and Jimmy Reyes combined on a no-hitter on May 19 for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach.

Tepesch went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 12 starts for the Pelicans prior to his June 15 promotion. In a dozen Double-A appearances, including 10 starts, he's fashioned a 3.57 ERA. That mark has shrunk of late as he's allowed six runs over his past five outings in which the RoughRiders are 4-1.

Drillers counterpart Brandon Hynick (4-3) was charged with three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Tommy Mendonca had two hits and two RBIs for the RoughRiders, while Leury Garcia went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Andrew Pentis is a contributor to MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at AndrewMiLB.