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06/11/2008 12:34 AM ET
Braddock locks up Tigers paddock
Brevard County hurler sets down 10 Lakeland batters in five frames
By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com
Zach Braddock amassed his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season. (Tony Farlow/MLB.com)

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Zach Braddock has gone more than five innings only once in eight starts this season. But that hasn't kept him from piling up strikeouts at a rapid pace.

Braddock fanned 10, allowing a run on two hits over five frames as the Brevard County Manatees topped the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 9-5, on Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Braddock (3-3) worked around a pair of singles in the opening frame by striking out the side swinging. After struggling with control problems in the second that led to three walks and a hit batsman (Louis Ott) to forced in a run, Braddock struck out Cale Iorg swinging to escape further damage.

The 20-year-old left-hander retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced, striking out two in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Six of the 10 strikeouts were on swings, leaving four batters caught looking at strike three.

It was the third double-digit strikeout performance that gave Braddock his second win in three starts. He began the season by fanning 13 batters in six innings over two starts for the Class A West Virginia Power. He fanned 10 over four frames April 27 against the Delmarva Shorebirds and whiffed 11 over six innings May 31 against the Vero Beach Devil Rays. In 11 outings on the season -- including eight starts -- the New Jersey native has struck out 56 in 41 innings.

Milwaukee's 18th round pick in 2005, Braddock went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA in 10 games -- nine starts -- for West Virginia last season and was named a South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star.

Kenny Holmberg delivered a two-run single in the first, Brent Brewer singled twice and had two RBIs and Taylor Green went 3-for-5, driving in a run and scoring one for the Manatees (34-31).

Jeramy Laster homered, doubled and scored twice and Brennan Boesch went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI single for the Flying Tigers (32-33).

Lakeland starter Mark Brackman (0-3) gave up four runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout while recording just five outs.

Steve Conley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.