Dayton Daily News article on Carlos Fisher

Former fielder Fisher finds pitching prowess with Dragons (Marc Katz, Dayton Daily News)

Everything is Lewis and Clark in Lewiston, Idaho.

Some day, maybe it will be Lewis and Clark and Fisher.

Carlos Fisher hasn't discovered anything, of course, except maybe a fastball that has allowed him to go 22 2/3 innings without giving up a run in his last four starts.

The next start is tonight to close the Class A Midwest League Dayton Dragons' homestand with Cedar Rapids.

"I can't ask for anything more," said Fisher, who allowed nine runs in his first 9 1/3 innings over two starts to begin the season. Since then, nothing.

"It was rough coming here from (warm) spring training," Fisher said. "The weather wasn't so great. It took a second to get used to the situation."

Originally a high school outfielder from Pasadena, Calif., Fisher was drafted in the 15th round by San Diego, which had no bonus money to offer. Fisher went to junior college, then Lewis and Clark State, an NAIA school known for its baseball.

At least three current major leaguers — Boston's Keith Foulke, San Francisco's Jason Ellison and the Braves' John Foster — attended Lewis and Clark.

It is where Fisher completed his transformation from an outfielder to a pitcher. The Reds selected him in the 11th round last summer. They sent him to rookie Billings, Mont., where he was 4-4 with a 4.19 ERA.

"I was doing so well pitching, and I couldn't hit anymore," Fisher said.

He is pitching so well, his record entering tonight's game is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA.