Fisher Cats' Greene tosses six hitless innings

Conner Greene had struggled in two outings since pitching a four-hit shutout on July 26. He got back to his winning ways with a masterful outing Friday.

The Blue Jays' 10th-ranked prospect pitched six hitless innings, striking out six and walking two, as Double-A New Hampshire held on for a 5-4 victory at Trenton.

"[The key was] just controlling my fastball," Greene said. "Having command on the outer half of the zone was the key for me."

Greene issued a four-pitch walk to Miguel Andujar with two outs in the first inning, but he bounced back to get Mike Ford to fly out to left. He retired the next nine batters before walking Ford on five pitches in the fourth.

"You can't be too fine; I was trying to be perfect," the 21-year-old right-hander said. "You're not going to be ever in this game; those walks were me trying to be perfect. Just the process of throwing strikes instead of being something you're not ... attacking, getting back to the attack mentality and not falling behind."

Greene was working with a 1-0 lead after Dwight Smith's RBI single in the top of the fourth, and New Hampshire added four runs in a long top of the seventh that saw nine batters come to the plate and essentially ended the California native's night after 90 pitches.

"I was gonna get [a chance to pitch the seventh], but because it was a long half-inning, I respect the coaches' decision," he said. "I think it was a good one, I was getting a little stiff there. Whatever helps the team win, and [reliever] Brady [Dragmire] did a good job there."

Dragmire worked two innings before losing the no-hitter when Dustin Fowler singled to lead off the ninth. Andujar reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jason Leblebijian, and Abiatal Avelino walked two batters later to load the bases with one out. Yankees No. 16 prospect Billy McKinney blasted a grand slam to right-center that cut the Fisher Cats' lead to 5-4.

"[I had] a little adrenaline, but I knew Brady could handle it, so I wasn't too worried about it," Greene said. "He ended up getting taken out, but I had a lot of confidence in him and [closer] Chris Smith. I was just hoping we could get this win together. [I had] no doubts that we were going to keep it going and get the third out in the last inning."

Smith allowed a single to Mark Payton but got Dante Bichette to fly out to right before striking out Sebastian Valle to preserve the win for Greene (4-4), who was coming off consecutive losses at Richmond on July 31 and against Erie on Aug. 6.

Greene allowed four runs -- all in the sixth inning -- on three hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings against the Flying Squirrels before the SeaWolves got to him for six runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 frames. Despite those struggles, he said he didn't feel the need to overhaul his approach.

"Nothing changed," the 2013 seventh-round pick said. "In Richmond, I kind of got touched up in the sixth inning but had a good one through five and similar stuff in the following one. ... I have confidence in my game -- just attacking and commanding fastballs."

Greene started the season in Class A Advanced Dunedin, where he went 4-4 with a 2.90 ERA over 77 2/3 innings. He had been up and down in seven starts after being promoted to New Hampshire, allowing four or more earned runs in four outings and two or fewer in the other three.

"Ryan Lavarnway handles me very well; him being a [former] big league catcher, he has a lot to teach me," Greene said. "I listen up and take what I can from him and his experiences. Being consistent and focused is huge and keeping the ball down. These guys can rake, [you] can't leave it up."

Leadoff man Christian Lopes went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and Blue Jays top prospect Richard Urena stretched his streak to 15 with a double and a single. 

Thunder starter Daniel Camarena (8-4) allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings.