The Diamondbacks got a pair of impressive performances Monday from two of their top minor-league pitching prospects: Reno right-hander Braden Shipley and Kane County lefty Cody Reed.
Shipley, Arizona's first-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2013, pitched six scoreless innings in Reno's 6-2 victory over New Orleans, giving up three hits and no walks and striking out eight. He was deprived of the win because New Orleans' starter Chris Reed matched him with six shutout innings before the Aces broke through agains the bullpen, but the outing improved Shipley's ERA to a season-low 2.98 (eighth in the PCL). He has 42 strikeouts and only seven walks in 54 1/3 innings.
"I've done a good job of accomplishing the things that I've wanted to accomplish to start the year -- attacking the zone and letting my stuff work, not being too fine, not walking guys and just having the overall confidence in myself knowing that I can get anybody out," Shipley told milb.com. "I think that's been a big key for me. Moving forward, I'm just going to stick with what I've been doing. I've been very pleased with what I've been able to do."
Reed, a 19-year-old from Alabama who was drafted in the second round in 2014, bounced back from his only poor outing of the season to pitch Kane County to a 7-1 win over Wisconsin. He went seven innings and struck out eight while giving up one earned run and six hits. Reed (4-2) has 47 strikeouts and three walks in 32 1/3 innings pitched. He gave up four runs in 2 1/3 innings in his last start -- in his other five starts, he's allowed a total of three runs.
Visalia's Luke Irvine also came through with a stellar effort on Monday, teaming up with two relievers on a 2-0 shutout of Stockton. Irvine (4-0, 2.32) gave up four hits and no walks while striking out six in 6 2/3 scoreless innings.
