Avila sets TinCaps record with 17 punchouts
The strikeouts just kept coming for Pedro Avila, and when it was all said and done, the young right-hander found himself atop the Class A Fort Wayne record books with 17 punchouts.
Avila, who led the TinCaps to a 4-1 win over Great Lakes on Tuesday night, eclipsed the record set by former Major Leaguer LaTroy Hawkins, who fanned 15 back on June 25, 1993. The last time a Minor League pitcher struck out more batters in a single game was on Sept. 2, 2007 when current D-backs reliever David Hernandez had 18 over nine innings for Class-A Advanced Frederick vs. Winston-Salem.
MILB Video - Title: Avila strikes out 17th batter - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1704688283
While Avila now holds the club record, he came up a bit shy of Midwest League glory as Robert Sprout's record of 22 still stands, just as it has for 57 years.
Avila got off to a fast start as he struck out the side in the first inning and stayed around the zone all night, throwing 74 of his 107 pitches for strikes.
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The 20-year-old struck out the side four times total and fanned nine in a row between the fifth and eighth innings.
Avila, who gave up one run on three hits, began the season with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore, but was sent down to the TinCaps after posting a 4.98 ERA in 10 games. With Fort Wayne, Avila has gone 6-1 with a 3.23 ERA in 10 games.