Soddies by Morning: Clayton, Bullpen Pitch a 2-Hit Shutout, Troy's Tank Enough

After dropping the opener 3-1 to Northwest Arkansas on Monday, starter Logan Clayton and the pen blanked the Naturals in game two to draw even in the final series of the first half.

Logan Clayton - Photo Credit: Emma McReynolds

Following some early Hodgetown horrors in his last start, and a rough go at the Double-A level so far this season, Clayton delivered the best start of his career so far on Wednesday night. The right-hander was coming off a start where he was put in a tough spot, having to eat innings because the staff still remains short handed due to recent promotions. The Missions would pile on 11 runs in 5.1 innings pitched, drawing his season totals in Amarillo to 14 runs in 9.1 innings of work. Wednesday's start couldn't have been more different, as the Houston Cougar pitched the longest outing of his career in game two of the series, striking out seven Naturals, and allowing just two hits on 64% strike rate on 85 pitches. Clayton set the tone early, striking out the first batter of the game, outifelder Rudy Martin, on three called strikes. The next batter Javier Vaz would double but the Naturals wouldn't have another hit until the seventh inning with another double by Brett Squires.

Amarillo would get all of the scoring that they would need from the evening in the third inning. After Naturals starter Hunter Owen walked Kristian Robinson for Amarillo's first baserunner of the night, Tommy Troy tanked the second pitch he saw in round two against the left for his fifth homer off a southpaw this season and seventh overall. Groover got in on the action and singled before Gavin Conitcello launched the first pitch that he saw to the deepest part of the park in dead center and it barely managed to stay in the park, tripling Groover home for hist sixth extra base hit of June to go with just eight strikeouts.

The Sod Poodles bullpen took charge and finished the shut out with a great outing from Alfred Morillo, who has only allowed a run once in his last six outings. Morillo picked up a strikeout in his inning of work before passing that ball to Hayden Durke in the ninth inning. Durke got the first two batters out but put himself in a bind after walking the next two before Sod Poodles manager Javier Colina decided to play the matchup game. With left hander Spencer Nivens at the plate Colina went to a left of his own in Philip Abner. The Florida Gator fell behind 2-0 to Nivens before coming back and running the count full, eventually landing the knockout punch for a strikeout to end the game. The save was Abner's first of his Double-A Career.

Amarillo isn't quite in the race to win the Texas League South first-half, but that doesn't mean that they're just going to roll over. An incredible performance from Clayton drove the bus to tie the final series of the half, getting ready for a fresh start to the second half on Tuesday night.