Steven Bruce Delivers Historic Start in Win

KINSTON, NC - It's not about how you start, it's how you finish. Steven Bruce embodied the cliche on Sunday tossing the first ever complete game shutout in Down East Wood Ducks history in a 5-0 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash. The right-hander did not walk a single batter and finished the feat in only 98 pitches, with 72 for strikes. 

The first pitch of the game was a line drive single by Nick Madrigal off of Bruce as three of the first six batters recorded hits. Bruce would leave Madrigal stranded on third and also got an inning-ending double play in the second to kickstart his performance.
Each of the next 10 batters were retired in a row and Bruce tossed a first pitch strike to eight of them. The Down East (14-30, 49-65) offense supported Bruce with a four-run bottom of the third. After a bases loaded double play produced the first run, LeDarious Clark brought home a run with a single with two outs. 
Anderson Tejeda came to the plate and mashed a 2-1 offer off the scoreboard in right-center field for a two-run blast to push the lead to 4-0. The homer was significant for Tejeda, marking only his second of the year off of a left-handed pitcher.
Alex Kowalczyk would add a solo homer in the fourth to supply Bruce with plenty of support for what was to come. The Dash (25-16, 66-45) still could not figure out Bruce on the mound.
After leaving a runner stranded in the eighth, the bullpen was warming up and Bruce stood at 91 pitches. His manager, Spike Owen, came for a brief check-in between innings and sent him back for the ninth.
Bruce would retire the side in order on only seven pitches to seal the shutout. The top three batters in the order, for a fourth time around, all three considered top-30 prospects in the White Sox organization, combined to go 2-for-12 against Bruce on Sunday.
Though the first pitch of the game resulted in a hit, 97 pitches later, Bruce sealed history with a strikeout.
Down East avoids the sweep with the victory and have Monday off. They continue the home stand on Tuesday with the Buies Creek Astros for the final series of the year against the AL West foes. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.