Williamson strikes out career-best 9 in win

Former NIACC pitcher Brandon Williamson made his 15th MLB start Monday night against the Miami Marlins.

And it was the best outing in the career of the Cincinnati Reds' 25-year old rookie left-hander.

Williamson, who pitched at NIACC in 2017-18, struck out a career-best nine batters with no walks in a 5-2 win over the Marlins at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

"It was just when we needed it the most for sure," Reds' manager David Bell was quoted as saying in an Associated Press story. "Not only for the win, (but) how much we've used our bullpen. It was the best we've seen him."

Williamson gained the win in Monday's win over the Marlins improving his record to 4-2. The lefty allowed one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings of work while recording his nine strikeouts. Williamson's previous high strikeout total was seven against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 2.

The 6 2/3 innings pitched by Williamson matched his career longest outing. He also logged 6/23 innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 2.

In Monday's outing, Williamson allowed a first-inning home run to the Marlins' Jorge Soler, who is tied for fifth in the National League with 17 home runs. Williamson held the Marlins scoreless after the first inning before being relieved with two outs in the seventh inning.

In his 15 starts, Williamson has accumulated 64 strikeouts with 29 walks in 75 1/3 innings pitched with a 4.54 earned run average. He has allowed 66 hits and 41 runs.

The Reds are 60-55 and trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 1.5 games in the National League Central Division.