Eric Knight’s performance against the Butler BlueSox Thursday night was a microcosm for his entire season.

Start out slow, but finish strong.

The Lorain County hurler spotted the BlueSox an early 3-0 lead, but retired 21 of the final 23 batters he faced in a 6-4 Prospect League victory at Pullman Park.

Along the way, Knight fanned 11 batters and did not issue a walk.

“He had a rough start to the season, but in his last four or five starts, he’s been excellent. He’s pushed past it,” Ironmen manager Joe Rhomberg. “The thing is he kept the ball low and got a lot of ground balls and that always helps a pitcher. ... His control was spot-on with his fastball and curveball.”

“He didn’t overpower us,” BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski said. “We just didn’t get the timely hits. We didn’t have good at-bats and he was throwing very well.”

And every rally the BlueSox (11-14) had, the Ironmen countered until they finally got the lead and Knight took care of the rest.

Butler opened the second inning with a leadoff double by George Roberts. One out later, Jason Radwan had an RBI double. After Stephen Vranka singled, Eric Hess followed with a two-run double and a 3-0 lead.

Lorain County, who left the bases loaded in the first inning, answered with three runs of its own in the top of the third inning when BlueSox starter Jared Locke hit two batters with one out and a wild pitch advanced both runners. Ryan Wonders lined a two-run double and Tyler Bires an RBI single.

An RBI sacrifice fly by Kyle Petty brought home Brendan Costantino in the bottom of the third inning to give Butler the lead, but the Ironmen (8-17) scored the equalizer in the fourth on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Michael Burke, which plated Kairee Tekra, who hit a leadoff triple.

Lorain County took the lead in the fifth inning when pinch-hitter Scott White had a one-out single, then two batters later Jacob Landmeier singled and came around to score on an errant throw to home. Tekra would hit a double to put two runners in scoring position, but Locke fanned Burke to end the threat.

“It’s absolutely frustrating,” Rebyanski said. “We get a three-spot, then they get three. We get one and they get one. Jared struggled with his control. He’s a great pitcher, but you can’t fall behind in the count.”

A 9-2 start to the second half seems like a distant memory as the BlueSox try to erase a 2-11 funk that has dropped Butler out of the playoff chase. Still, Rebyanski knows another game is waiting.

“I was hoping last night’s win (a 13-7 come-from-behind effort over Chillicothe), we could capitalize on the momentum,” Rebyanski said. “On my end, I have to be positive. I know the guys are tired. Everyone’s getting tired at this point of the season. We’ll come back again Friday. It’s another day.”

Notes: The Ironmen added an insurance run in the eighth inning when the BlueSox turned a double play. ... Lorain stranded 11 baserunners while the BlueSox had one. ... The attendance was 638, giving the BlueSox a franchise-record 18,020 for the year, bettering last year’s 17,563.

Lorain 003 110 010 — 6 12 2

Butler 031 000 000 — 4 4 2

W: Eric Knight 7 IP (11K, 0BB). L: Jared Locke 5 IP (6K, 2BB).

Lorain County (8-17): Ryan Wonders 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Kairee Tekra 2B, 3B; Cody Koch 3-1B; John Koepf 2-1B; Tyler Bires 1B, RBI; Jacob Lindmeier 1B; Scott White 1B; Michael Burke RBI

Butler (11-14): George Roberts 2B; Jason Radwan 2B, RBI; Eric Hess 2B, 2 RBI; Stephen Vranka 1B; Elliott Caldwell RBI

Today: Lorain at Butler, 6:35 p.m.