Lopez makes it look easy for Shuckers

Jorge Lopez stopped fighting himself and started conquering the opposition.

The Brewers' No. 12 prospect yielded two hits over six scoreless innings to win his second straight start Wednesday night as Double-A Biloxi defeated Pensacola, 5-3.

Lopez (2-2) struck out five, issued three walks and hit a batter, throwing 54 of 91 pitches for strikes.

"Tonight was the first time that he really got into his delivery," Shuckers pitching coach Chris Hook said. "I thought the ball was coming out of his hand well, his fastball was 92-96 mph and he had a nice angle on it. To me, when he is so clean in his delivery, the ball comes out free and easy. He's got angle and velocity -- it's a tough combo for any hitter."

The Puerto Rico native had only eight strikeouts in his first three starts, making Wednesday's total even more impressive. Hook thought he could have had more.

"Tonight, his curveball was really, really good," he said. "I thought he could have had a few more punchouts, but he tried to pick some corners and got into deeper counts."

While Lopez has posted back-to-back scoreless outings, Hook said he thought this was the best the 2011 second-round pick has looked this season.

"Our previous game in Jackson, he fought himself in that. It wasn't as easy as it was tonight," he said. "He had all three pitches tonight: the curveball was a plus and his changeup was around the strike zone. If he can continue to do this, he'll do well in the Southern League."

With the success of Wednesday fresh on his mind, Lopez just needs to continue to believe in himself, his pitching coach said.

"I think he needs to know with his stuff he can really dominate hitters," Hook said. "I think that's the next step. He needs to take the bull by the horns and realize that confidence. He has the ability to pitch extremely well on any night in any league with his stuff."

Brewers right-hander Jim Henderson, rehabbing an injured pitching shoulder, gave up one hit in the seventh. Tanner Poppe surrendered three runs on three hits while recording one out in the eighth, Austin Ross got out of the inning and Wirfin Obispo tossed a hitless ninth for his fourth save.

Brewers top prospect Orlando Arcia was 2-for-5 with an RBI and Nick Ramirez plated a pair of runs for the Shuckers.

Sean Buckley slugged his first Double-A homer, a two-run shot, for the Blue Wahoos.