Tyler Slepski’s effort Wednesday night allowed the Butler BlueSox baseball team to continue applying pressure on the Chillicothe Paints in the Prospect League’s East Division race.

Slepski was efficient during the BlueSox’s 9-5 win over Richmond at Kelly Automotive Park, using 82 pitches to get through eight innings and held the RiverRats to three runs.

The win kept Butler (25-20, 11-6) a half game behind first-place Chillicothe, which beat West Virginia 1-0.

“I like to get a lot of ground balls and let the defense work,” said Slepski, who is a Butler High School graduate. “I don’t try to do too much. I try to keep the ball down and work the corners.”

Slepski hasn’t allowed more than three runs during his seven starts, compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.58 ERA. He retired the first eight batters the RiverRats (14-29, 4-12) sent to the plate.

“He keeps his pitch count down and he attacks the hitters,” BlueSox manager Jason Radwan said. “He’s not overpowering, but he stays around the zone and mixes his pitches.”

Another strong effort from Butler’s offense gave Slepski plenty of room to work.

The BlueSox pounded out 13 hits and benefitted from three errors by Richmond.

Michael Patrick hit a solo home run to lead off the third inning and put Butler on top. Ty Sullivan, who finished with three hits, followed with a single.

Sullivan reached second when RiverRats catcher Aiden McMahan tried to catch him stealing and his throw went into center field. David Marcus drove Sullivan in with a single.

“The last couple weeks we haven’t been playing real solid defensively,” Richmond manager Tyler Lairson said. “It’s tough. You give up three, four runs and don’t take advantage of your opportunities to score. When you give them base runners, they are good enough offensively to blow it open.”

Patrick extended the lead to 3-0 by hitting a sacrifice fly to score Allan Hooker.

Richmond — which finished with 10 hits — cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth following a sacrifice fly by Nick Moore and a single by Troy Paris.

Butler plated two runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning off RiverRats starting pitcher Joe Pourier to give Slepski breathing room.

Sullivan singled with one-out.

One batter later, Sullivan moved to third when Matt Hansen singled. Following a wild pitch, Hansen moved to second and Richmond intentionally walked Marcus.

Jamie Switalski drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Sullivan and Cam Balego singled in a run.

“We’re swinging the bats well and the starting pitching has been pretty good,” Radwan said. “Our hitters are hitting well right now and we’re scoring some runs.”

The BlueSox added two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to seal the win. Russell Clark brought in two runs in the eighth with a bases-loaded double.

It was Butler’s second straight unorthodox win. The BlueSox made three errors and still beat Richmond.

Tuesday night, Butler got off to an 8-0 lead against West Virginia before winning 10-7.

The BlueSox want to stick close to the Paints however they can.

“We’ll take it any way, we’re not picky,” Slepski said. “This is a great game and you win anyway, any day.”

Richmond 000 002 012 — 5 10 3

Butler 002 102 22x — 9 13 3

W: Tyler Slepski 8IP (2K, 2BB). L: Joe Pourier 6IP (1K, 4BB).

Richmond (14-29, 4-12): Nick Moore 2 RBI, Aiden McMahan 1B R, Troy Paris 2-1B RBI, Jeff Kammer 1B RBI, Cody Begovich 2B, Braden Mosley 2B RBI, Kenny Hostrander 2B, Joba Ferrell 3-1B.

Butler (25-20, 12-6): Tyler Sullivan 3-1B 3-R, Dan Hrbek 3-1B RBI, Matt Hansen 1B R, David Marcus 1B RBI, Jamie Switalski RBI, Cameron Balego 1B RBI, Allan Hooker 2-1B, Russell Clark 1B 2-RBI, Michael Patrick HR 2-RBI.

Today: Richmond at Butler