File cruises to put Shuckers win from Finals
Dylan File gave the Double-A Shuckers more than just a cushion in Game 2 of the Southern League semifinals Thursday.The 23-year-old right-hander allowed one run over 8 1/3 innings to lead Biloxi to a 4-1 victory over Pensacola at MGM Park for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. File
The 23-year-old right-hander allowed one run over 8 1/3 innings to lead Biloxi to a 4-1 victory over Pensacola at MGM Park for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. File stifled a potent Pensacola offense, retiring 10 out of his first 11 batters. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out six in his longest start of the year.
"This feels incredible," File said. "This is huge. We wanted to slam the door in their face. Especially going to their place tomorrow, going on the road with a 2-0 lead can't do anything but help you."
A six-pitch first inning jump-started his night. The 2017 21st-round pick retired top Twins prospects
File delivered a 1-2-3 third and went on to retire 19 of his next 20 batters, the only flaw being when he hit Larnach with a pitch in the fourth.
The Arizona native entered the ninth at 93 pitches.
A five-pitch walk to Lewis -- the game's seventh-ranked prospect -- followed and File exited the game.
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Wednesday's extra-inning thriller meant heavy bullpen use, which File used as extra motivation to stay in the game.
"Last night, we used pretty much every single one of our pitchers in the bullpen," he said. "Being able to go out and pick up the bullpen and not have to use any arms that were used yesterday was really big. It feels really good to have been able to help them out like that."
File had some extra support in the stands -- his father, Mike.
"This is the first time I've had my dad here and threw well," the 6-foot-1, 205-pound hurler said with a laugh.
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The elder File couldn't contain his pride.
"Today was one of the best days of my life," he said. "You come here, you see the stage. ... Just to see the command and control he had, he was money. But seeing how the crowd responds to him, and what he means to the community, that's even better than the baseball."
The Shuckers took care of the offense with a pair of long balls. A night after hammering a walk off solo shot in the 10th inning,
Biloxi can advance to the Southern League Championship Series with a win in Pensacola on Friday. The game will start at 6:35 p.m. ET.
In other Southern League action:
Generals 9, Biscuits 1
Katie Woo is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiejwoo.