Dylan Cease allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next 19 batters and completing seven scoreless innings, a career high, of two-hit ball as Class A Advanced Winston-Salem blanked Lynchburg, 9-0, on Tuesday night.
The White Sox No. 5 prospect (No. 59 overall) set a career high with 12 strikeouts while hitting triple digits with his fastball in the outing. He threw a season-high 101 pitches, 74 for strikes, and did not issue a walk.
• How White Sox prospects fared on Tuesday
Cease's streak of 19 consecutive batters retired concluded in the seventh inning when Conner Capel (Indians' No. 12) singled on a ground ball back up the middle after Cease had notched a strikeout to open the frame. The 22-year-old right-hander responded by fanning the next two hitters en route to striking out the side for the third time in the game.
Cease lowered his ERA to 2.05 with the scoreless performance, his second in five starts for the Dash this season. Cease's dozen strikeouts, meanwhile, pushed his total to 36 through 26 1/3 innings, during which he's permitted 15 hits while walking 12.
Acquired from the Cubs with Eloy Jimenez for Jose Quintana at last year's Trade Deadline, Cease pitched to a 3.89 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 41 2/3 innings (nine starts) after joining Class A Kannapolis. He was similarly impressive prior to the trade, too, registering a 2.79 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 51 2/3 frames (13 starts) as a member for Class A South Bend.