Bryan Buxton blasts a 3-run homer and Stephen Gonsalves hurls 6 scoreless innings for Rochester.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Byron Buxton hit a 3-run homer and Stephen Gonsalves tossed 6 scoreless innings as the Red Wings flew past the Columbus Clippers 8-0 Tuesday night at Huntington Park.
Buxton – who had played in just 3 games since July 14 due to a wrist injury – blew the game open with a line drive, 3-run homer off Luke Eubank in the fifth inning in his first game off the disabled list.
The electrifying centerfielder – who also threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth inning – finished 3-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Gonsalves (9-3) continued his string of impressive starts, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks over his 99-pitch outing. He’s now 5-0 with a 1.27 ERA (9 ER, 63.2 IP) over his last 11 outings. Over that span, he’s allowed just 34 hits.
Kennys Vargas got the Wings on the board with an RBI double in the first inning. He would add another RBI double in the fifth as he finished 3-for-4 with a double, walk and two RBI.
DJ Baxendale (2 IP) and John Curtiss (1 IP) cleaned up the last 3 frames for the Wings to secure the teams 10th shutout of the season.
The Wings and Clippers play the rubber game of the 3-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 pm. Southpaw and Minnesota Twins prospect Lewis Thorpe will make his Triple-A debut for the Wings after going 8-5, 3.58 ERA in 22 outings for Double-A Chattanooga.
*NOTES — In a roster move Tuesday, OF Byron Buxton was reinstated from the disabled list. He originally was placed on the disabled list with a left wrist strain on July 14 but appeared in just 3 games before being placed back on the DL on Aug. 1…Entering tonight’s game, Rochester was 97-for-the-last-521 (.186 average) with runners in scoring position since June 2. Overall, the Red Wings are batting .205 with RISP and .195 with RISP and two outs this season…Rochester’s bullpen has pitched to a 2.82 ERA (140 ER, 446.1 IP) while surrendering 175 total runs. That ERA was a collective 2.19 on May 28. The ‘pen has pitched to a 3.41 ERA (62 ER, 163.2 IP) since July 1 but has allowed just 7 total runs in 34.1 innings in the last 7 games, and 5 of those came in 1 game.