Houser goes the distance for Double-A Biloxi
Brewers No. 28 prospect K's career-high 10, begins shutout with 6 perfect frames in Southern League semis
Adrian Houser has never been better than he was Friday.
The Brewers' No. 28 prospect was masterful in Double-A Biloxi's 6-0 win over Pensacola in the Southern League semifinals, recording his first shutout in five professional seasons while striking out a career-high 10 batters. Houser carried a perfect game into the seventh inning before yielding three hits, and he needed only 99 pitches (72 strikes) to complete the outing.
Acquired at the Trade Deadline in the Carlos Gomez deal, Houser scuffled over the first four months of the season in the Astros' system, combining for a 5.10 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 83 innings between Class A Advanced and Double-A Corpus Christi.
The 22-year-old right-hander -- a second-round Draft pick back in 2011 -- fared much better after joining Biloxi, going 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 32/6 strikeout-to-walk in 37 innings over seven starts. Houser allowed a total of three earned runs in his first six outings for the Shuckers but struggled in his final regular-season start (2 IP, 5 ER), making his performance on Friday all the more impressive.
On the season, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has pitched to a 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 110/41 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 120 innings -- not including Friday's playoff outing -- between the Class A Advanced and Double-A levels.
The win gave Biloxi a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series, and it's now one win away from advancing to the Southern League finals.