05/18/2008 4:58 PM ET
Boggs strikes out 10 in four-hit shutout
Cards prospect allows two hits over seven innings for Memphis
By Danny Wild / Special to MLB.com
Mitchell Boggs knew he had a tough task ahead of him with the first-place RedHawks fighting for a split of their four-game series Sunday.
"They're one of the better teams in our league, so I knew I'd have to be good," Boggs said.
The simple game plan worked pretty well -- Boggs struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed two hits and a pair of walks over seven innings as the Memphis Redbirds shut out the visiting Oklahoma RedHawks, 1-0.
Hugo Castellanos (2-0) fanned one in the eighth inning for the win before Jason Motte struck out the side in the ninth for his first save. The Memphis trio combined for 14 strikeouts and allowed just four hits. It was the best performance for Boggs since he struck out a career-high 11 batters in a one-hit shutout on June 14, 2006 for Class A Advanced Palm Beach.
"I felt pretty good," he said. "I couldn't be happier."
Boggs threw 64 of his 114 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 3.33 in the no-decision. He induced six grounders and four flyouts in his ninth Triple-A start.
"I tried to stay focused," he said. "I made some pitches in tough spots and had a couple great defensive plays behind me. Then we came up with a big homer."
Kameron Loe (2-3) came on and hurled two more scoreless innings before serving up a two-out tiebreaking homer to Joe Mather in the eighth. Mather has gone yard in five of his last six games.
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