Moss spins complete game, stymies Jackson
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Morgan Moss wanted a photo.
Before Biscuits starting pitcher Benton Moss took the mound on Monday, Morgan asked her husband whether the couple would be able to take a photo together on the field at Riverwalk Stadium. Morgan not only captured their moment but witnessed arguably the best start of Benton’s professional career.
“My wife had asked me, ‘Hey could we get a picture on the field today?’” recalled Moss. “I said, ‘I don’t know, I have to do my pregame and I will probably pitch and come out of the game.’
“I ended up finishing the game on the mound and we got the picture, so it was nice.”
On a career-high 106 pitches, Moss tossed the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, allowing just one run and notching six strikeouts in Montgomery’s 5–1 win over the Jackson Generals. With the victory, the Biscuits are now tied for first place in the North Division Second Half standings.
“I went into today just focusing on trying to live at the knees and keeping my pitches down,” said Moss. “I just tried to pitch and not throw.”
Moss scattered hits early. The right-hander was peppered, surrendering five hits through three innings. Although Jackson scored first on an RBI-single by Marty Herum in the second, Moss remained confident in his approach.
“For me, I should have called a different pitch. The location was okay, but the pitch selection should have been a little different,” Moss said. “I felt like I had control of all my pitches, so it didn’t really phase me.”
Starting with a lineout to end the third, Moss was nearly untouchable. The former North Carolina Tar Heel retired eleven straight batters, keeping the Generals’ offense silent in the middle innings.
At the same time, the Biscuits’ bats came alive in the fifth frame. Nate Lowe drove home a pair with a two-run double before Jake Cronenworth plated him on an RBI-single.
On the mound, Moss, who had only received 2.6 runs of support per game in nine starts, was setting down hitters early in counts.
“He was at 74 pitches through six [innings],” said Montgomery pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein. “He was efficient from the first pitch. He got early contact and quick outs, which hadn’t been happening for him.”
Despite allowing a seventh-inning single to Jay Gonzalez, Moss continued to roll through Jackson’s lineup. The 25-year-old retired the next four batters, putting him three outs away from the second Biscuits complete game of the season.
“At that point in time, you are thinking it (a complete game) is possible,” Lichtenstein said. “He had pitched the kind of ballgame that warranted rewarding him and giving him a chance to do that.”
As a junior in college, Moss had thrown a nine-inning complete game against North Florida in non-conference play. And, after allowing a Jamie Westbrook one-out double, Moss struck out one batter and induced a flyout from another to finish off his first nine-inning complete game as a professional.
“It’s got to be up there in my top five [performances],” said Moss, who has a 3–1 record and 2.33 ERA over his last four starts. “I’m starting to get comfortable and just sticking with trying to pitch.”
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Nate Lowe’s two-run double in the fifth inning, not only gave the Biscuits the lead but also pulled the first baseman closer to leading Minor League Baseball in RBIs. Lowe has 81 RBIs between High-A Charlotte and Montgomery. New York Mets prospect Peter Alonso currently leads all hitters with 90 RBIs.
SOUND SMART
Once Benton Moss gets through the fourth inning, opponents cannot score against the Rocky Mount, N.C., native. In his last four starts, Moss has a 0.75 ERA after the fourth frame.
HE SAID IT
“Naturally, your job is to get that guy through the inning at all costs, so that is what I take pride in.” — Brett Sullivan, on his approach as a catcher.
UP NEXT
Southpaw Genesis Cabrera will make his 21st start of the season Tuesday against the Generals and MLB veteran Barry Enright at Riverwalk Stadium. Cabrera is coming off of 7.1 scoreless innings on July 26 against Jacksonville. Enright will be making his first start with Jackson.
