By CRAIG POTTER
David Hurlbut hurls 7 shutout innings in 7-0 victory over the Bisons.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — David Hurlbut pitched an outstanding game and his Rochester Red Wings teammates supported him with their biggest output of the season (17 hits) en route to a 7-0 victory on Monday night before a paid crowd of 3,957 fans at Frontier Field.
The southpaw from Fullerton, CA., pitched 7 scoreless innings, scattering 4 hits as he walked 2 and struck out 7 batters.
“Everything was working for me,” said Hurlbut. “I felt good tonight.”
His battery mate, John Ryan Murphy, paced the offensive attack, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Zack Granite and Matt Hague also collected 3 hits apiece and 1 RBI. Mitch Garver, ByungHo Park, Tommy Field, and J.B. Shuck each had 2 hits.
“I always worry about the second day,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “It sure was fun to watch today.”
The Wings scored 2 runs in the second after stranding runners on second and third in the first. They batted around in the third and plated 4 runs, then tacked on the final marker in the fourth.
“Run support is always fun,” Hurlbut said with a smile.
In addition to Park’s two hits, he also performed well at first base, scooping up several bounced throws to complete an out.
“Last year he had a lot of work to do at first,” Quade said. “He came back this spring and everything was better. It doesn’t always look pretty, but he seems to get it done. He’s done a really good job defensively for us all year.”
Relief pitcher Mason Melotakis made his Triple-A debut as he retired all 3 batters he faced in the eighth. Kam Mickolio did the same in the ninth for Rochester.
The victory was the fourth straight for the Red Wings while the Bisons dropped their fifth straight game. Rochester (33-33) leapfrogged over Buffalo (34-35) into fourth place in the International League North Division.
*NOTES – OF Zack Granite was named the Batavia Downs Player of the Week. Granite batted .500 (13-for-24) with four runs scored, three RBI, and four walks, and three stolen bases. Granite had a 17-game hitting streak snapped in the second game of the June 18 doubleheader in Pawtucket after going 0-for-2 with a walk; he had multiple hits in 13 of his last 15 games coming into June 18. His .341 average leads all International League batters entering play June 19. Granite went 3-for-5 with 1 RBI against Buffalo…The Red Wings collected a season-high 17, a season-high 7 doubles, and tied a season-high 7 extra base hits in the win over the Bisons…Rochester has the third-best winning percentage (.733) in the IL when scoring the first run of the game (22-8)…Tim Melville started for the Wings in Game 2 of Sunday’s twinbill, becoming the 16th different player to start a game on the mound for Rochester this season. That is tied with Durham for second most in the IL behind Louisville’s 18 different starting pitchers…The Red Wings added relievers LHP Mason Melotakis and RHP Jake Reed from Double-A Chattanooga, and LHP Matt Tracy was transferred to Double-A Chattanooga…Left-handed pitcher Hector Santiago and right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes will begin rehab assignments with the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins announced on Monday. Santiago will start the game while Hughes will throw in relief. Santiago landed on the Twins 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain on June 7 while Hughes has been on the DL since May 22 with right biceps tendon inflammation. Both will play in Rochester as members of the Wings for the first time…STEVE GARVEY AUTOGRAPH APPEARANCE – The 1974 National League MVP and 10-time NL All-Star stops by Frontier Field on Tuesday, June 20, to sign autographs and meet fans from 6-6:45 pm and 7:15-8 pm before the game against Buffalo.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
David Hurlbut interview – https://youtu.be/zj-GwDFaxIY
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/BpDvwM_9sx8