CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The top pitching staff in the Prospect League continued to be strong for the Chillicothe Paints (9-4), presented by Adena Health System, in a 1-0 loss to the Champion City Kings (4-4) Thursday night in front of 2,061 at VA Memorial Stadium.

Chillicothe starter Griffan Smith threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, walked four and struck out seven in an effort that awarded him a no decision. Zach Mehelich (1-1) allowed just one run on three hits and walked two over two innings of relief and was the tough-luck loser. Damon Egnor threw two scoreless innings and walked a pair.

Offensively, the Paints just had no answer for Champion City's pitchers. Henry von Hollen got a no decision for his 4 1/3 innings as the starter. He didn't allow a run, surrendered just two hits, walked four and struck out four. Mike Ramirez (1-0) earned the win for his 2 1/3 innings of relief, he gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out four. Jake Monnin pitched 1 1/3 scoreless inning and Austin Marchant earned his second save with a perfect ninth. Combined, the Kings' pitchers struck out 11 Paints hitters.

The Paints had their chances, they left 11 on base throughout the night, including seven in scoring position, but the clutch hit never came. 

Champion City scored the only run of the game in the top of the seventh. A controversial safe call at first put Zack Luckey aboard with one out. He scored two batters later on a two-out RBI double by Quincy Hamilton. 

The Paints travel to Beckley, W.Va., to play the West Virginia Miners for the first time this season at 6:35 p.m. They'll return home to VA Memorial Stadium to play the Miners Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 6:05 p.m.