Rutherford, Adams among top prospect performers Wednesday

Michael Kopech may be the hottest pitcher in all of Minor League Baseball these days as he continues to shut down opposing lineups with a plethora of strikeouts.

The 20-year-old was on fire once again Wednesday, leading Double-A Salem to a 9-1 win over Potomac.

Kopech, the Red Sox’s No. 5 prospect, spun a career-high seven innings, giving up just one hit and two walks in his fifth scoreless start of the year.

“Getting through seven is big,” Salem pitching coach Paul Abbott told MiLB.com. “I feel like the seventh inning is what the standard is for starters everywhere to get to, and when you’re knocking on that door you start putting pressure on yourself to get there. Him getting through that and finishing it the way he did, feeling that fresh and looking that sharp, that will ease his mind going forward.”

There is a reason Kopech is regarded as the No. 76 prospect in all of baseball, and he showed that as he pounded the zone, throwing 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes and finishing the masterpiece with 10 strikeouts.

Kopech has struck out 10 or more in three consecutive starts and in four of his past five trips to the mound. The right-hander has 85 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings this season and a remarkable 32 strikeouts over his past 18 frames.

“He’s a big, strong kid and there’s no reason why he can’t keep his velocity throughout the course of the game,” Abbott added. “He’s been a lot more efficient lately, throwing strikes. It’s encouraging that he’s been able to keep his velocity up, but it isn’t surprising.”

Through 10 starts with Salem, Kopech has a 1.23 ERA thanks to holding the opposition to one earned run or fewer eight times. In the other two starts, he gave up two runs.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Wednesday:

• Lewis Brinson (Brewers’ No. 2, No. 28 overall) pushed his average back up over .400 with Triple-A Colorado Springs after going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. The 22-year-old is hitting .407 in 14 games with the Sky Sox since being acquired in a trade. Brinson drove in two with a double in the third and …

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