Butler fans waited through a 30-minute rain delay before the first pitch of the 100th BlueSox game at Pullman Park.

Once the Prospect League contest began, it turned into a long night for the home team.

Sam Lewis struck out 11 and scattered four hits in a complete-game effort to lead the West Virginia Miners to a 5-2 victory over the Butler BlueSox on Thursday night.

The West Virginia right-hander threw 134 pitches — 84 for strikes — while allowing four walks and two earned runs.

“That guy was outstanding on the mound,” said Butler manager Anthony Rebyanski. “Shut us down all day.”

The BlueSox (9-5) missed a chance to put him on the ropes early.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, Lewis loaded the bases with three straight two-out walks. Butler clean-up hitter George Roberts — hitting .444 on the year — stepped to the plate, but went down swinging and Lewis escaped the threat.

“Sammy just has some good stuff,” said West Virginia manager Tim Epling of Lewis, who tossed a seven-inning no-hitter May 30 against Slippery Rock. “He's stayed pretty consistent. Butler is a good hitting team. They really are.

“For him to come in and pitch as well as he did and do that,” Epling added, “my hat is off to Sammy because he pitched against a good team tonight.”

West Virginia (6-6) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after consecutive base knocks from Bradley Strong, Clayton Prestridge and Tyler Wells. Strong scored on Wells' single to right-center field before Prestridge scampered home on a wild pitch from Butler starter Kyle Thomas.

The left-hander suffered his first loss of the season after posting a 5-0 record in seven previous starts. Thomas fanned four, walked three, gave up five hits, four earned runs and threw 103 pitches in 4 1-3 innings of work.

Butler gave Thomas a little bit of run support in the second inning. Roberts led off the frame with a hit and came around to score when Jason Radwan rifled a single through the legs of Lewis. Radwan advanced to second on the throw home from center field, but the Miners avoided further damage.

Two pitches later, Justin Brozick hit a line drive right to second baseman Sergio Leon, who stepped on the bag to double off Radwan and end the inning.

“The last three losses, we've had a lot of guys in scoring position,” said Rebyanski. “We have to find a way and dig down inside to make an adjustment to what they're doing.”

The BlueSox committed three errors and went 21 plate appearances without a hit from the second through eighth inning. Brendan Costantino snapped the drought with a double down the right-field line, but was caught stealing after a late jump from second base.

“We just have to be a little bit smarter with those small things and then that will help us win a ballgame,” Rebyanski noted.

The Miners plated two runs in the fifth for a 4-1 cushion when Prestridge drove in Strong with an RBI triple to center field. The three-bagger brought Thomas' night to a close, but Wells welcomed relief pitcher David Kucenic with an RBI double.

Kucenic went 1 2-3 innings, did not allow an earned run, struck out two and walked one. Josh Henderson was the third and final Butler pitcher. He hurled three innings, struck out one and gave up a controversial earned run.

Joseph Williams lifted a ball down the left-field line, but it dropped to the side of Butler left fielder Neal Jacobs. The home-plate umpire declared it a fair ball, although Rebyanski and a host of BlueSox fans argued it clearly landed in foul territory. The Butler manager vigorously debated the call, but was not ejected.

Kyle Petty gave Butler life with a double to lead off the bottom of the ninth. He later scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Albaugh, but that's all the BlueSox could muster.

Despite a three-game losing streak, Butler is only one game behind the Richmond RiverRats for first in the East Division.

“As a whole entire club, we have to be tough enough to overcome some of those things that could throw you off a little bit,” said Rebyanski. “You just have to find a way to dig down and win.”

West Virginia 200 020 010 — 5 10 1

Butler BlueSox 010 000 001 — 2 4 3

W: Sam Lewis 9 IP (11K, 4BB). L: Kyle Thomas 4 1-3 IP (4K, 3BB).

West Virginia (6-6): Joseph Williams 2B, RBI; Bradley Strong 2-1B, 2-R; Clayton Prestridge 3B, 2-1B, 2-R, RBI; Tyler Wells 2B, 1B, 2-RBI; Luke Meeteer 2B; Alex De La Rosa 1B, R.

Butler BlueSox (9-5): Brendan Costantino 2B; Kyle Petty 2B, R; George Roberts 1B, R; Matt Albaugh RBI; Jason Radwan 1B, RBI.

Friday: West Virginia vs. Butler BlueSox, 7:05 at Pullman Park.