Weigel fans career-high 11 for Rome

For a pitcher with only 29 professional starts to his name, Patrick Weigel is showing the ability to keep his emotions in check.

The Braves' No. 29 prospect recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing a run on two hits Saturday before Class A Rome dropped a 2-1 decision to Lexington at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. 

"One thing we like about Pat is that he is able to pitch with emotion and understands who he is a pitcher," Braves pitching coach Dan Meyer said. "He was upset that the team didn't win, and I understand that. Whether he pitches well or not, he wants to win the ballgame with the team. I think that shows the type of person he is."

Weigel sat down the first two hitters he faced before Royals No. 24 prospect Anderson Miller hit a solo shot to left field. It was the second homer of the season for the 22-year-old, who also went yard on Friday night. 

"Miller is a good ballplayer and a good fastball hitter. That was a good pitch," Meyer said. "The one thing that surprised me was that Patrick was mad a little bit but still struck out the next hitter out on a 99 mph fastball. For him to be able to control his emotion and still be able to stay within himself shows you the maturity he's got for someone his age."

Weigel settled down after the long ball, striking out Brandon Dulin to close the first, then worked around a walk and a hit batter in the second and third, respectively.

In the fourth, Meyer was ejected by home plate umpire Matt Carlyon. His pitcher seemed to feed off of his coach's energy and retired the next 12 batters. 

"He's one of those guys that thrives off of emotion," Meyer said. "Whether I had anything to do with how he responded to the ejection, I don't know. But that kid is constantly going out there every game and giving us six solid innings and great pitching. I have to give a lot of credit to our scouting department. To find a kid like that in the seventh round is amazing."

The University of Houston product has been a model of consistency in his first season in the South Atlantic League, posting a 2.68 ERA and 1.12 WHIP to go with 94 strikeouts over 87 1/3 innings. Weigel has lasted at least six innings in each of his last five outings. 

"It's a combination of his size, his work ethic and his athleticism," Meyer said. "He's one of the hardest workers we have. He's a horse and he gets stronger every game he's out there. When you have a good fastball that can hit 97 or 98 with the ability to throw his off-speed for strikes, the kid's got a great opportunity ahead of him.

"He does a good job of staying on top of the baseball and stays down the hill. He's a big guy with a strong arm and has a good idea of what kind of pitches he has. We've gotten to that point where he's been consistent in repeating his delivery." 

Weigel exited a 1-1 game, but the Legends got an RBI infield hit from catcher Xavier Fernandez to pull out the win.