Butler turns in another solid outing

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies right-handed prospect Eddie Butler demonstrated Friday afternoon that he can survive when he doesn't dominate.

Butler gave up one run on four hits in three innings of the 4-0 loss to the Giants.

Brandon Belt and Buster Posey each singled in the fifth, but Butler worked Hunter Pence into a line-drive double play. After a spotless sixth that ended with a strikeout of Hector Sanchez, the Giants loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit batsman, but Butler escaped the inning by getting a groundball force out that plated a run and a line drive.

Butler, 22, a supplemental first-round pick in 2012 out of Radford University, posted a 1.80 ERA at two Class A levels and Double A last season. It was the second lowest ERA in all the Minors. This spring, Butler has a 3.86 ERA in three appearances totaling six innings. Butler and 2013 first-round pick Jon Gray, a righty from Oklahoma, have signaled that they are not far from the Majors, although it's not clear if they'll stay in camp or be sent to Minor League camp to increase their innings.

"He kept it together," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He got some balls elevated and they got barreled, but the thing I like is he's got that heavy sinker that's going to get him out of it more times than not. He kept his cool, it didn't get fast on him and he made some pitches."