Drive's Shawaryn spins six scoreless frames

If there were any doubts about Michael Shawaryn's ability to make it as a starter since turning pro, they are slowly fading away.
After going at least five innings in each of his previous three starts, the 12th-ranked Red Sox prospect turned in the longest outing of his career on Saturday night with six one-hit frames in Class A Greenville's 4-1 win over Augusta at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Shawaryn took a no-hitter into the sixth, issued two walks and struck out five.

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"I just go out there with the mentality of giving it 100 percent on every pitch until someone tells me I'm done for the day," Shawaryn said. "With that mindset I have, whether it's five innings or six innings, it doesn't feel like you're selling yourself short or you're pushing yourself too much. But it's always good to be able to show you can go deep into games."
The 22-year-old right-hander said he had all three of his pitches -- fastball, changeup and slider -- working against the GreenJackets as he fired first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 22 batters he faced and induced nine ground-ball outs.
"When you're able to control all three pitches and throw them in any count, it really gets hitters off-balance," Shawaryn said. "There were also some really nice plays by our defense, so that helped, too. But when you're able to get hitters off-balance, it really helps you to be able to go deep into a game."
The 2016 fifth-round pick's only blemishes were walks to Carlos Tovar and Frandy De La Rosa and a single by Kevin Rivera leading off the sixth.
"Whatever mindset or game plan you have, if you're able to control those three pitches, it makes it a lot easier," Shawaryn said. "Our game plan is always to get ahead, stay ahead and put batters away when you have a chance."
After a rough 2017 debut in which he surrendered nine runs in two innings, Shawaryn has struck out 30 over 21 1/3 frames while posting a 1.27 ERA in his past four starts, including Saturday.

"I just need to keep doing what I've been doing. That's a big thing," the New Jersey native said. "Sometimes you can almost out-think yourself trying to look too deep into outings. Sometimes less is better. I just need to continue to get into that rhythm."
Shawaryn also hopes Saturday's start is the latest stepping stone in his development as a durable starting pitcher.
"With my track record, and I know it's a little bit different in college, but I was able to go nine innings in college and I was able to throw over 300 innings," the University of Maryland product said. "I just go out there and keep working with the stuff I have, but for guys who maybe don't really believe I can be a starter, maybe they'll start to realize it now. Personally, I don't really worry about that stuff though."
Red Sox No. 23 prospect Stephen Nogosek preserved the win for Shawaryn and registered his South Atlantic League-leading seventh with 1 2/3 scoreless frames. He allowed one hit and one walk while punching out a pair.
Jerry Downs slugged a solo homer for the Drive, while Santiago Espinal went 3-for-5.