You can’t blame the West Virginia Miners for being relieved about leaving Butler in the rear-view mirror.

Not after the team’s two-game Prospect League series against the BlueSox yielded no runs and just three hits.

Butler posted its second straight 2-0 victory over the two-time defending league champions Thursday night at Kelly Automotive Park. The game was shortened to eight innings due to heavy rain in the top of the ninth.

Three Butler pitchers, namely starter Gage Carpenter, limited West Virginia to just six baserunners and one of them reached on a fielding error.

Carpenter worked the first six innings, allowing two hits while striking out nine against no walks. He retired the final 10 batters he faced.

“I was locating really well tonight,” said Carpenter, who has a slider, curveball, change-up and a two-seam and four-seam fastball in his arsenal. “I knew that they (Miners) weren’t good against offspeed stuff. Basically, if you keep the ball down, you can be successful against any team.”

Carpenter’s only other start this season came in a 3-0 loss at Chillicothe June 2. In that outing, he allowed two earned runs on four hits in four innings with three strikeouts and three walks.

“He was a little inconsistent with his pitches that night, but he battled through it,” said Butler manager Anthony Rebyanski. “He worked on some things in between starts and was much better tonight.”

Carpenter allowed a pair of doubles in the top of the second inning, but the Miners (5-9) could not manage a run. The first two-base hit came from Gavin Culler, who tried to stretch it into a triple, but centerfielder Taylor Schmidt retrieved the ball in left-center. His relay throw to shortstop Zac LaNeve was followed by a strike to third baseman Cody Herald just in time to get Culler.

“That was our first big relay play this season,” Rebyanski said. “Taylor is the fastest guy in the outfield and his relay throw was perfect.”

Later in the inning, Westyn Baylor hit a two-out double, but was stranded when Rob Youngblood grounded out to end the inning.

The BlueSox (8-5) scored the only run they would need in their half of the second.

Against Miners’ starter and hard-luck losing pitcher Chase Boster, Mick Fennell doubled down the left-field line. Two batters later, LaNeve drove him in with a single.

Boster would last seven innings, giving up the one run on two hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Butler plated an insurance run off reliever Trey Gonsalez in the bottom of the eighth as Collin Massanelli’s sacrifice fly scored Forrest Perron.

Butler’s Austin Ross relieved Carpenter in the seventh frame and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Alex Martin came on to get the last two outs of the eighth, both via strikeout, stranding runners at first and second in the process.

“We keep telling our pitchers to pound the zone and work low,” said Rebyanski. “It’s a long season. Hopefully, our bats will come around and we can continue to pitch well.”

Martin returned to the mound for the top of the ninth, but following Mike Brosseau’s groundout and a walk to Zach Woolcock, action was halted because of rain. Thirty-five minutes later, the game was officially suspended by the umpires.

West Virginia manager Tim Epling, who was ejected after arguing a call at first base in the top of the ninth inning, was unavailable for comment.

West Virginia 000 000 00x — 0 2 0

Butler 010 000 01x — 2 5 1

W: Gage Carpenter 6IP (9K, 0BB). L: Chase Boster 7IP (6K, 0BB).

West Virginia (5-9): Gavin Culler 2B, Westyn Baylor 2B

Butler (8-5): Mick Fennell 2B R, Anthony Smith 1B, Zac LaNeve 2-1B RBI, Collin Massanelli RBI, Russell Clark 1B, Forrest Perron R

Today: Chillicothe at Butler