The last time CJ Eldred was out on the mound, he threw an almost unheard of 78-pitch complete game victory against the Waterloo Bucks.
Wednesday, he proved it was no fluke, going seven innings while allowing just one run and striking out five in a 4-2 victory over the host Alexandria Blue Anchors.
The win gives him his second on the year and in as many starts.
The Express offense aided him enough to give the team its fifth straight win overall and improve its record against Alexandria to 6-0 on the season.
Down 1-0 in the top of the fifth, Drew Turbin knocked in his 20th and 21st RBIs of the season by singling in Mike Barajas and Brady Burzynski to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Daniel Salters scored Peter Van Gansen on an RBI single to make it 3-1. Salters collected three hits on the night to give him at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. During that time, his averaged has raised to .313.
Matt Panek pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Express, and Jeff Hendrix added some insurance in the top of the ninth by belting his second home run in as many days.
The Blue Anchors got one run on the board in the bottom of the ninth off Eric Gleese, but he held on for his fifth save of the year.
The win ensures Eau Claire will remain in first place, as the Express entered play Wednesday with a half-game lead over Mankato in the North.
The orange and black will travel to Thunder Bay for a two-game series starting Thursday. First pitch for that contest is set for 6:05 p.m. CT.
