The Butler BlueSox got their second look at James Wright.

This time, Champion City's starting pitcher was much more dominant than in his victory over the BlueSox May 31.

Wright took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of Wednesday's Prospect League game and allowed just one run on one hit in six frames as the Kings prevailed 6-3 at Kelly Automotive Park.

Wright gave up a pair of first-inning runs in his first meeting with Butler, but worked 5 2/3 innings in a 13-6 win.

“He struggled in that first inning the first time,” said Champion City manager Mike Ruechel, “but he settled down and has been steady for us since then.”

In 13 innings pitched this season, Wright has 17 strikeouts and just four walks. He retired 14 of the first 15 batters he face Wednesday. The only Butler batter to reach base in the first five innings was Rey Gonzalez, who walked to lead off the second inning. He was thrown out while attempting to steal a base later in the frame.

“He's a good pitcher,” Butler manager Cody Herald said of Wright, “but he did the same exact things that he did the first time we faced him. We just didn't make any adjustments.”

Trailing 4-0, Butler finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Erek Bolton drew a leadoff walk and Damian Maglione managed his team's first hit of the game, a single to center field. The Sox received a break when Stefan Mrkonja laid down what he thought was a sacrifice bunt, but reached safely when Kings' first baseman Jett Swetland couldn't handle the throw from Wright, who had fielded the ball.

The bases were loaded with no outs, but Wright effectively went into damage-control mode. He induced Ben Carew to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Bolton scored on the play, but Tyler Benson was retired moments later and the Sox missed a golden opportunity for a big inning.

It proved to be the end of Wright's outing. He finished with six strikeouts and two walks.

“He had really good command of all of his pitches and worked the zone well, up and down and in and out,” said Ruechel.

Butler was on the wrong end of a questionable call in the eighth frame. Trailing 5-1, the Sox had two runners on base with one out when Benson appeared to load the bases with an infield single. He was ruled safe by the field umpire, but the call was overturned by the home plate umpire. Brady Gulakowski then struck out to end the threat.

“It was tough for the field umpire to see the play from where he was (near second base),” said Herald. “The home plate umpire said he saw it and called Tyler out.

“Our first base coach confirmed that Tyler beat the throw. Sometimes things just don't go your way.”

Butler (4-4) managed a late rally against Champion City reliever John Medich. With the score 6-1 in the bottom of the ninth, walks to Gonzalez and Tanner Murphy were sandwiched around a single from Kristian Webb to load the bases with no outs. Medich struck out Bolton, but then walked Maglione to force in a run.

Austin Marchant was brought in to douse Butler's hopes and he did. After allowing a sacrifice fly to Mrkonja that plated Webb with Butler's third run, Carew grounded out to end the game.

Butler starter Josh LaPiana was the hard-luck loser. Pitching on just three days of rest, he allowed one run on four hits in four innings of work.

“Our starter tonight was supposed to be Nolan Krivijanski, but he recently tweaked his groin and told us today that it was still bothering him,” Herald said.

“Josh is a competitor,” Herald added. “He wants to win and even if he's not 100 percent, he'll give you everything he has.”

Ryann Gray (two innings) and Jack Herzing (three) both pitched in relief for Butler, allowing three and two runs, respectively.

Gray was on the mound for a three-run sixth frame for the Kings (4-4). The key hit was Jimmy McLaughlin's one-out, two-run triple.

Champion City 010 003 101 — 6 9 1

Butler 000 001 002 — 3 4 3

W: James Wright 6 IP (6K, 2BB). L: Josh LaPiana 4 IP (6K, 2BB). S: Austin Marchant .2 IP (0K, 0BB).

Champion City (4-4): Jay Copeland 2-1B 3B 2R, Tanner Burns 1B, Noah West RBI, D.J. Dillon 2R, Jett Swetland 2-1B R, Jimmy McLaughlin 3B R 2RBI, Devin Bafia 2-1B RBI

Butler (4-4): Ben Carew 1B, Ray Gonzalez R, Kristian Webb 1B R, Tanner Murphy 2B, Erek Bolton R, Damian Maglione 1B RBI, Stefan Mrkonja RBI

Today: Butler at Lafayette (Ind.)