Braves prospect Hursh throws seven-inning shutout

Right-hander Jason Hursh, the Braves' No. 3 prospect, threw a four-hit shutout Friday and Double-A Mississippi defeated Pensacola, 7-0, in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The game was shortened to seven innings because of the twin bill.

Hursh struck out one batter and limited the Blue Wahoos to one walk. He needed just 83 pitches to match the longest start of his young career.

With the victory, Hursh improved to 4-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 11 starts this season. He has struck out 34 batters and walked 16 in 58 2/3 innings.

The Braves selected Hursh with the 31st overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. After signing last summer, Hursh was sent to Class A Rome. He posted an 0.67 ERA in 27 innings in the South Atlantic League, and the Braves challenged him with an assignment to Mississippi this spring to begin his first full professional season.

Though Friday turned out to be a one-sided affair, it was expected to be a pitchers' duel between Hursh and Michael Lorenzen, the Reds' No. 4 prospect. The Braves scored seven runs off Lorenzen and chased the right-hander with one out in the third inning.

Catcher Braeden Schlehuber hit a three-run home run off Lorenzen to lead the Braves' offense. He finished the game 1-for-2 with four RBIs.