For the second straight start, the 22-year-old right-hander has turned in a high-strikeout, low-run performance as he tries to finish out his year strong in Arizona. The result has been a strong indication that he can make the jump from Class A ball up the developmental ladder and translate his high potential into results among the quietly emerging corps of young arms Detroit is building in its farm system.

Marte earned a promotion from high Class A Lakeland over the summer after dominating Florida State League hitters in seven starts. Beyond the 3-2 record and 1.98 ERA, he scattered just 29 hits over 41 innings, allowing a .196 opposing average while racking up 41 strikeouts. After Marte earned a promotion to Double-A Erie, an elbow strain halted his summer before he came back in July.

The combination of a return from the disabled list and the jump to Erie seemingly affected Marte upon his return as he struggled down the stretch with the SeaWolves. Tigers officials assigned him to the AFL to make up some of those innings he lost as a starter. It helped that his pitching coach with the Mesa Solar Sox, Ray Burris, also worked with him in the same post at Erie.

Initially, Marte's struggles continued with a three-run inning Oct. 9 and three runs over as many innings a week later. Then suddenly, he broke out with a four-inning, eight-strikeout performance Oct. 22 at Scottsdale, including four straight batters through the second inning and into the third. He scattered four hits and didn't walk a single batter, outpitching Red Sox youngster Clay Buchholz in the process.

The follow-up performance came Tuesday with four more innings of one-run ball, this time with six strikeouts -- including the final two batters he faced -- for another victory.

The sum total has vaulted Marte close to the AFL leaders in strikeouts. Only Diamondbacks prospect Max Scherzer and Texas' Willie Eyre fanned more batters than Marte's 16 entering Wednesday. Both have had more innings than Marte's 12.

Casey Fien finally gave up a run in the AFL, which turned out to be the winning tally in the ninth inning of last Friday's Rising Stars showcase game on a bases-loaded walk. In regulation play, however, Fien's scoreless streak rolls on. His three outs on four pitches in the ninth inning Tuesday stretched his shutout AFL campaign to 8 2/3 innings of five-hit ball with nine strikeouts.

Other highlights for the Tigers in the AFL include Jeff Larish, who has overcome his slow start at the plate to show more signs as a run producer for Mesa in his repeat campaign. His run-scoring double Tuesday stretched his RBI streak to six straight games, during which he has plated 12 runs. He has scored a run in each of his last eight games, totaling 14 runs over the stretch, while his bat picks up. He has just one home run for the entire AFL season, producing his offense instead on the strength of singles and doubles. His average was up to .281 entering Wednesday while he shuffles defensively between first and third base.

Outfield prospect Casper Wells, meanwhile, belted a three-run homer in Tuesday's win as he continues his streaky fall sharing time in Mesa's lineup. He had three hits in his previous game last Saturday and a pair of two-hit games the previous week, but also struck out 12 times over his last 32 at-bats entering Wednesday.

Out in the Caribbean, the Tigers' process of getting young players extra time in winter ball has begun. Outfielder Brent Clevlen has been getting his extra at-bats in the Dominican League with Leones del Escogido. He entered Wednesday batting 8-for-29 with two doubles, an RBI, four walks and seven strikeouts.

Dusty Ryan is slated to begin catching next month with Ponce of the revived Puerto Rican League once it begins play in about a week. About a week later, Matt Joyce is expected to be part of the outfield for Mexicali in the Mexican League.

In Hawaii's Winter League, outfielder Kyle Peter continues to challenge for the batting crown with a .393 average (22-for-56). He entered Wednesday with seven hits over his past two games, including four Tuesday. A 34th-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Peter went to Hawaii after batting .263 with 34 RBIs and 42 stolen bases over a full season for Class A West Michigan.