It was the start that Ben Hartz was looking for, though he would have preferred a different ending.

The Butler BlueSox pitcher looked masterful through the first four innings of Wednesday’s Prospect League baseball game against Champion City.

He encountered trouble in the fifth, however, and before the sixth frame was over, he had been tagged for all four runs in a 4-3 loss to the Kings at Kelly Automotive Park.

Hartz saw his record this season drop to 0-3 with an ERA of 6.19. In 2014, he was 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA with the Sox.

When Hartz walked off the mound after the top of the fourth inning Wednesday, he had yet to allow a baserunner while striking out three — and he held a 1-0 lead.

“It looked like the old Ben Hartz from last year,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “He was throwing strikes and using his defense.”

Hartz labored in the fifth, walking his first two batters of the game. Connor Foley singled in the Kings’ first run, but Hartz got out of the inning when he induced Roman Gammel to hit into a 5-3 double play.

The sixth inning began with Hartz walking the first three batters he faced, though he was able to pick off Adam Fitzgibbon at first base.

With two men on and one out, Matt Priebe laced a two-run double to left that put Champion City up 3-1 and chased Hartz from the game.

“Ben struggled at the end, but I can still take positives out of his start,” said Radwan. “It was good to see him start strong tonight. We’re still expecting a lot out of him this year.”

Kyle Rago came in out of the bullpen and surrendered an RBI-double to Sean Kennedy. The run closed the book on Hartz.

The Kings (5-12) tallied just four hits in the game, but their two doubles yielded three of their four runs.

“Quality is what we preach when it comes to hits,” said Champion City’s acting manager Zach Dumler. “We talk all the time about the importance of situational hitting and the guys are buying in.”

The four runs would be just enough for the Kings, who received a strong start from Trent Armstrong. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

“I love to see guys compete and Trent competed tonight,” said Dumler. “He’s been pitching all season for us, but was on fire tonight. He really pounded the zone.”

Armstrong allowed one run in the first inning — Matt Hansen scored on David Marcus’ single to right. Armstrong then pitched four straight scoreless innings before Marcus and Hansen teamed up again. The former hit an RBI-double that cut Champion City’s lead to 4-2.

Hansen (leadoff hitter) and Marcus (clean-up) combined to go 5-for-8 in the game, with Hansen scoring all three of Butler’s runs. The rest of the Sox’s lineup was just 2-for-24.

“Matt is exactly what you want out of a leadoff hitter,” Radwan said. “He’s leading us in hitting (.368), is quick and can steal bases. We just need to get the other parts of the order to start hitting.”

Hansen scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth to make it 4-3, but that is as far as Butler would get. Luke Dietz (2/3 inning) and Ryan Vruggink (1) shut the door on the Sox (8-9). Dietz stranded the tying run at third base in the eighth frame.

Rago and Jon Laird combined to pitch the final 3 2/3 innings for Butler.

Champion City manager Chris Perkovich had to sit out Wednesday’s game after being ejected from Tuesday’s contest.

Champion City 000 013 000 — 4 4 0

Butler 100 001 010 — 3 7 0

W: Trent Armstrong 7.1 IP (4K, 1BB). L: Ben Hartz 5.1 IP (3K, 5BB). S: Ryan Vruggink 1 IP (2K, 0BB).

Champion City (5-12): Cale Dineen R, Eric Peterson R, Matt Priebe 2B R 2RBI, Bradley Macciocchi 1B R, Sean Kennedy 2B RBI, Connor Foley 1B RBI

Butler (8-9): Matt Hansen 2-1B 2B 3R, Danny Hrbek 1B, David Marcus 1B 2B 2RBI, Russell Clark 1B

Today: Butler at West Virginia