Blaze's Crabbe nearly untouchable

Tim Crabbe decided to give his outfielders the night off on Wednesday.

Crabbe pitched six hitless innings before allowing a pair of infield singles in the seventh as Class A Advanced Bakersfield beat Visalia, 5-4.

Crabbe retired the first 11 batters of the game before issuing a two-out walk to Michael Freeman in the fourth inning. Freeman was immediately thrown out trying to steal second base to end the frame. The 24-year-old right-hander then set down the side in order in the fifth and sixth before Ryan LaPensee singled to short to open the seventh.

"We were just trying to go right after hitters," he said. "I was able to throw the slider in the zone today. It was pretty effective today, that helped out. I was trying to go after them with fastball-slider. We used the changeup in the later innings against lefties."

Crabbe (3-0) exited after 6 2/3 innings, fanning a season-high nine while walking two batters. He was charged with a run that scored after he left the game and allowed only one ball to leave the infield, a first-inning flyout by Gerson Montilla.

"I can't really speak to the key for keeping the ball in the infield," Crabbe said. "We were just able to get ahead really, and throwing the breaking ball in the zone is always an advantage, because they can't just sit on fastball. Keeping the ball down and letting the infielders do their thing helped also."

Crabbe began the year with Double-A Pensacola, going 3-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 18 starts for the Blue Wahoos. He was sent down the California League on July 16 to work on one thing in particular.

"When I was sent down, they told me to work on fastball command," the Arizona native said. "\I think I've been able to make some improvements on that."

With a gem like Wednesday's under his belt, it'd be easy to take for granted how he's pitching. But Crabbe is looking to carry his approach with him going forward.

"I'd say the important thing to take away is throwing first-pitch strikes," he said. "I've struggled with command in the past. So not worrying about that, going one pitch at a time, and attacking hitters and having that approach."

Kyle McMyne entered the game with a runner on first in the ninth and retired the next three batters to earn his sixth save for the Blaze.

Ryan Wright, the Reds' No. 9 prospect, slugged his first homer as a member of the Blaze, and finished with three hits.