STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings blanked the Pawtucket Red Sox 2-0 Friday night at Frontier Field, on Renew Your Vows Night at the ballpark. The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. with fireworks after the game; Boston All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia is expected to play as part of a rehab assignment.
Wings starter Stephen Gonsalves got off to a fast start as he retired his first six batters faced while recording four strikeouts in the process.
Gonsalves allowed his first base runner of the game in the third inning after slipping on the infield grass after attempting to field a swinging bunt off the bat of Aneury Tavarez. Tavarez was eventually picked off during the next at bat after trying to steal second base. Pawtucket threatened after drawing a pair of walks and a base hit loaded the bases, but Gonsalves worked out of the jam after recording his fifth strikeout of the game to end the frame.
Rochester got on the board in the bottom half of the third after tallying a run against Red Sox starter Chandler Shepherd. Ryan LaMarre singled with two outs, putting a pair of runners on after Zack Granite reached base safely on an error committed by Pawtucket shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin in the at-bat prior. Jake Cave then followed up with a single of his own to bring home Granite and give the Wings a 1-0 lead. Both LaMarre and Cave extended their hitting streaks to six and seven games respectively.
The offense continued in the fourth after Willians Astudillo blasted a two-out home run over the left field wall, extending his current hit streak to five and giving Rochester a 2-0 lead.
Alan Busenitz relieved Gonsalves in the sixth after allowing a one-out double to Sam Travis. Gonsalves kept the Pawtucket offense in check during his 5.1 innings pitched as he allowed no runs on four hits, while walking four and striking out 11. He threw 94 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Pawtucket threatened again in the seventh after Busenitz allowed a walk and a pair of fielder choice’s, setting up Pedroia with a runner on third and two outs. Busenitz came out on top as he struck out Pedroia on a full count to end the inning.
Shepherd was replaced to begin the bottom half of the seventh. Shepherd pitched 6.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out three. He threw 99 pitches, 66 for strikes.
Busenitz went 1.2 innings allowing no runs on no hits while walking one and striking out one. He was replaced by John Curtiss to begin the eighth inning. Curtiss worked two scoreless innings, striking out three and picking up his third save of the season.
Pedroia went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts.
Winning pitcher: Gonsalves (3-1)
Losing pitcher: Shepherd (2-3)
Save: Curtiss (3)
Losing pitcher: Shepherd (2-3)
Save: Curtiss (3)
Box Score: Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
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NOTES: Minnesota Twins 3B Miguel Sano will join the Red Wings Saturday on a rehab assignment.
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