Catfish's Wade one-hits Sand Gnats

Columbus Catfish starter Cory Wade was a double short of perfection Wednesday against the visiting Savannah Sand Gnats.

A day after being named to the South Atlantic League All-Star squad, Wade (3-2) picked up his first professional complete-game shutout with the 3-0 victory. He struck out 11, one shy of matching his season high, and did not walk a batter.

"I had real good control of my fastball," Wade said.

Columbus pitching coach Richie Lewis told Wade to get ahead in the pitch count and throw down and away, advice Wade deemed "successful for me and the rest of the pitching staff."

After yielding a one-out two-bagger to Ofilio Castro in the first inning, the 23-year-old right-hander was perfect the rest of the way, retiring the next 26 consecutive batters.

"I didn't even know until after the game," Wade said.

Bill Greif performed the same feat against Savannah on May 25, 1970. After allowing a two-out infield hit in the first, Greif retired the next 26 batters. Columbus lost that contest, however, as Savannah rallied for four runs in the 10th after a batter reached on an error.

Wade, who had one complete game with the Rookie League's Ogden Raptors in 2005, has struck out 63 batters in 58 innings. The right-hander began the season in relief, making a spot start when another pitcher was injured.

"I'm comfortable (starting) since that's what I did in college," said Wade, who attended Kentucky Wesleyan College before he was drafted by the Dodgers in 2004.

A two-out RBI single by Lucas May followed by Anthony Harper's two-run homer -- his third of the season -- in the fourth provided all of the run support for the Catfish (32-27), who are on a four-game winning streak. The dinger "gave us a boost," Wade said.

Starter David Trahan (1-7) surrendered three runs on six hits, while striking out seven and walking one over 7 1/3 innings. Reliever Ricky Shefka retired two of the final three batters faced as the Sand Gnats (23-36) dropped their third straight game.