Clayton Kershaw.JPG

Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters as a Great Lakes Loons starter in 2007.

(The Saginaw News | File)

MIDLAND, MI — Great Lakes Loons pitcher Jose De Leon made just his second start for the Loons Tuesday, but he put himself in the franchise record book, breaking a strikeout record set by Clayton Kershaw in 2007.

Jose De Leon

De Leon struck out 14 Fort Wayne TinCap batters in just six innings, breaking Kershaw's record of 12 set in the Loons' first season. The record of 12 has been tied twice by Victor Garate in 2008 and Greg Wilborn in 2010.

De Leon, a Puerto Rico native who played collegiately for Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, struck out nine consecutive batters Tuesday, coming up one shy of the Midwest League record set in 1966.

De Leon could have struck out more batters, but he hit his pitch count with his final strikeout, getting Jake Bauers swinging to end the sixth inning and De Leon's game on his 91st pitch.

Twelve of De Leon's 14 strikeouts were swinging, with five needing a throw to first from catcher Spencer Navin.

The Los Angeles Dodgers took the 6-foot-2, 220-pound De Leon in the 24th round of the 2013 draft.

In his first outing for the Loons on August 14, De Leon struck out seven in six innings, allowing one run and three hits.

At Ogden this season, De Leon was 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 10 games. He struck out 77 in 54 1/3 innings with 44 hits and 19 walks.

He was promoted to replace reliever Ralston Cash. At the time of his promotion, the right-handed De Leon led the Pioneer League in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP (1.16), opponents batting average (.217) and K/9 rate (13.01). He won Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week award twice.