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Mr. Reliable

BlueSox pitcher Andre Jones delivers a pitch during Butler's 5-2 win in Game 1 of a Prospect League doubleheader Thursday night at Kelly Automotive Park. Jones is 3-0 with a 4.07 ERA. The RiverRats earned a split by winning the nightcap 9-2.

Andre Jones sustained an injury to his pitching shoulder late in his collegiate season at California (Pa.) University.

He showed no signs of the setback Wednesday.

Jones pitched a gem, allowing a pair of runs on four hits in a complete game (seven innings), igniting Butler to a 5-2 win over Richmond (Ind.) in the first game of a Prospect League doubleheader at Kelly Automotive Park.

The RiverRats earned a split with a 9-2 victory in the nightcap.

Jones is now 3-0 in his four starts with the BlueSox with an ERA of 4.07, which is inflated because of a relief outing against West Virginia June 19 in which he gave up five earned runs in just 1/3 inning pitched.

“When he starts, he throws strikes,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “He’s not a strikeout pitcher, but he’s always in the zone and relies a lot on his off-speed stuff.”

“In the spring, I was sliding into second base and I dislocated my (right) shoulder,” said Jones, who struck out three and walked three in his latest outing, during which he threw 97 pitches. “It still bothers me a bit, but it’s getting better. I just try to use the defense behind me. Both in the outfield and infield, our defense has played exceptionally well for me.

“I throw a fastball, slider, change-up and splitter. Today, everything was working for me.”

He had the 1-2-3 innings to prove it.

After giving up a single and a walk in the top of the first inning, Jones retired 18 of the next 19 batters he faced.

It would have been 19 consecutive outs if not for a two-out walk to Dalton Boucher in the fifth.

The string included Jones setting Richmond down in order in the second, third, fourth and sixth frames.

The RiverRats finally got to him for two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh, but he was able to close out the complete-game win.

Jones, who went 2-1 in nine appearances (including four starts) for Cal, was the beneficiary of an early lead provided by his teammates.

Matt Hansen broke the ice with a sacrifice fly that scored Tyler Sullivan in the bottom of the first frame.

David Marcus followed with an RBI-single that plated Danny Hrbek.

Butler, which tallied 10 hits in the game, added two more runs in the third and a single tally in the fourth.

Starter and losing pitcher Joe Pourier was charged with all five runs.

“We had been really struggling at the plate, but over the last week or so, we’ve done a better job of putting the ball in play,” said Radwan.

The Sox were unable to continue their solid effort at the plate in the second game, managing just four hits against three Richmond pitchers.

Unlike the evening’s first contest, it was the RiverRats who scored early with three runs off of Butler starter Jon Anderson.

The right-hander settled down by working four scoreless frames from the second through the fifth.

Marcus’ two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth pulled the Sox to within 3-2.

But Richmond scored six runs off of reliever Jon Laird in the next half inning.

A crucial throwing error led to five of the runs being unearned.

Butler (14-15 overall, 1-1 second half) is hoping to earn a better start to the second half than it did in the first. The Sox were just 8-13 after 21 games this season.

“The hitting is going to be key,” said Radwan. “We need to get hits in key situations.”

Marcus is the obvious pick to lead the way. He was named the Prospect League’s Player of the Week last week after batting .458 (11-for-24) in six games.

He went a combined 3-for-6 in Wednesday’s twinbill and now leads the league with a .380 average.

Game 1

Richmond 000 000 2 — 2 4 1

Butler 202 100 x — 5 10 0

W: Andre Jones 7 IP (3K, 3BB). L: Joe Pourier 6 IP (2K, 1BB).

Richmond: Nick Moore 1B, Cody Begovich R, Shane Lewis 1B R, Dalton Boucher 1B RBI, Braden Mosley 1B RBI

Butler: Tyler Sullivan R, Danny Hrbek 1B R, Matt Hansen 1B R RBI, David Marcus 2-1B R RBI, Jamie Switalski 1B RBI, Nick Rabat 1B, Ty White 1B RBI, Mitch Machi 1B, Michael Patrick 2-1B R

Game 2

Richmond 300 006 0 — 9 8 1

Butler 000 020 0 — 2 4 2

W: Cory Craig 4 IP (4K, 2BB). L: Jon Anderson 5 IP (4K, 5BB).

Richmond (11-18, 1-1): Kenny Hostrander 1B R RBI, Nick Moore R RBI, Troy Paris 1B 2R, Aiden McMahan 2-1B 2R 3RBI, Cody Begovich 1B 2B R 3RBI, Anthony Justiniano 1B R RBI, Mizraim Fuentes 1B R

Butler (14-15, 1-1): Tyler Sullivan R, Matt Hansen 1B, David Marcus HR 2RBI, Ty White 1B, Mitch Machi 1B

Today: Butler at Chillicothe

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