The streak is over. Entering Monday, Giants pitching prospect Garrett Williams had gone 14 straight innings in the Arizona Fall League without allowing a run for the Scottsdale Scorpions, spanning his last three starts.
Rather quickly, the streak concluded against the Mesa Solar Sox.
Mesa plated a first-inning run against Williams, though that was on an infield error and a wild pitch. Over five innings, the left-hander allowed three runs — two earned — while striking out six batters to only one walk in the Scorpions’ 5-4 win against the Solar Sox.
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As Williams struggled with his feel for his fastball early in his start, he turned to his slider all night long, no matter the count. And four of his six strikeouts came via the slider, which sat at 82 to 83 mph.
"The breaking ball has always been in my back pocket,” Williams said after the win to MLB.com.
Williams has been a bright spot for the Giants in the AFL. He disappointed this past season for Double-A Richmond with a 6.06 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 61 walks in 81.2 innings. He’s taking his time in the desert as a clean slate and his confidence has grown with each start.
"I treat this as a new season ... kind of clear my mind," Williams said to MLB.com. "Came out here and started attacking the zone, got my confidence up and really relied on my fastball command. I'm happy with the way I've been throwing.”
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Over five starts, Williams is now tied for the AFL lead in wins with a 3-0 record. He has a 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts to seven walks in 20 innings pitched.
Matt Winn, Giants prospect and Williams’ battery mate for the night, also hit his first home run of the AFL, a game-tying solo shot in the top of the third inning.