Miracle's Berrios lights up Marauders

Jose Berrios used the light behind him to his advantage on Tuesday, perhaps the most apt metaphor to describe the rising star's performance this season.

The Twins' No. 5 prospect allowed one hit and struck out nine over seven scoreless innings as Class A Advanced Fort Myers defeated Bradenton, 4-2, at Hammond Stadium.

Berrios (7-2) allowed only a two-out single to Pirates No. 6 prospect Josh Bell in the first inning. After issuing his second walk of the night to Bell in the fourth, the 20-year-old right-hander retired the final 12 batters he faced.

"Well, much like some of his other performances, he's way beyond his years," Miracle pitching coach Gary Lucas said after Berrios threw 64 of 99 pitches for strikes. "When he had a couple of bumps in the road, he kept his composure and poise and made some pitches in deep count situations. I think what is significant is that he's holding his velocity and he's able to make some pitches in key spots; tonight it was in several deep counts. That's what I saw tonight, a lot of poise and composure in a tight game that we needed and he needed.

"We really took advantage early of him throwing out of the sun and into the shadows. I think it was tough for the batters to see the ball. He hit some quality locations. He deserves some credit, too. Whether he was pitching in the dark or the daylight, he made some quality pitches."

Berrios is tied for the Florida State League lead with seven wins and tied for fifth with a 2.09 ERA. He's also sixth among all Minor Leaguers with 90 strikeouts over 77 2/3 innings. With numbers like those and outings like Tuesday's, it's easy to speculate when, not if, MLB.com's No. 76 overall prospect will find his way to Double-A New Britain, a goal the hurler set for himself this year. Lucas doesn't think it will be much longer before that happens.

"I think he's right on track to go there now," the former Major Leaguer said. "I think he's passed the A-ball test. When Minnesota is ready to move him, he's a legit candidate to move. I don't think you can hold him back forever. I think he's on a roll now, his confidence is sky-high. I don't see any reason that he can't do more than just compete at Double-A, I think he's a guy who is going to be a horse for us in the big leagues.

"I'm sure he'll reach his goal before this year is over. I'm sure Minnesota will want to test him out. He's certainly in a groove now and that's their decision. The boy is certainly on track, that's for sure."

One issue that for the Puerto Rico native is overthrowing his fastball, something that stems from the fact that Berrios played a lot of shortstop before being selected 32nd overall in the 2012 Draft.

"I think, like anything else as far as pitching, he's learning how to do that," Lucas said. "He's been told that, even though he can light up the radar gun, maybe a few clicks lower might get it done and get him out of at-bats a bit quicker. It's a tough sell when he's throwing 90-96 mph by people and averaging 94-95 like he did tonight.

"[We're] not trying to make him a ground-ball pitcher, but he does need to get out of some at-bats a little bit quicker. I think that will come with time and how he learns how to command his stuff down in the zone a bit better. It's all stuff and raw talent, and I think every outing he's going to learn more about his stuff and he's going to learn to conserve his pitches as he goes along. It's a learning process to have a little bit more pitchability with all his stuff."

Madison Boer followed Berrios and gave up two runs on two hits in the eighth, but Tyler Jones tossed a hitless ninth for his eighth save.

Jorge Polanco, the Twins' eighth-ranked prospect, slugged a solo homer and Lance Ray doubled in a run for the Miracle, whose magic number to clinch the South Division first-half title dropped to one.

Marauders starter John Kuchno fell to 3-6 after giving up three runs on five hits over six innings.