Stephen Gonsalves dominates with 7.2 scoreless innings in his Rochester debut.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Stephen Gonsalves dominated in his return to the Red Wings rotation Tuesday night as he tossed 7.2 scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy Stadium in Rhode Island.
The only base runners the southpaw allowed was a one-out single to Jordan Betts in the second inning and an eighth inning leadoff walk to Mike Olt. In between, he retired 17 straight batters.
Gonsalves struck out 5 Paw Sox over his 92-pitch Wings season debut.
Gonsalves, after struggling a bit in spring training, opened the season with Double-A Chattanooga where he posted a 3-0 mark with a 1.77 ERA in 4 starts. The 23-year-old went 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA in five games (four starts) with the Wings in 2017.
Kennys Vargas provided the only offense the Wings would need with a long home run to right in the fifth inning. The homer snapped an 86-inning long ball drought for the Wings dating back to April 20. Vargas now has 3 of Rochester’s 8 home runs this season.
Vargas wasn’t in Joel Skinner’s original lineup but entered in the top of the third as a pinch-hitter for leadoff man Nick Buss.
After the 2-out homer, Leonardo Reginatto singled to right and moved to second on a balk before Jake Cave doubled him home to give the Wings a 2-0 lead.
Alan Busenitz got the last out of the eighth before working a scoreless ninth to preserve the win for Gonsalves.
The Wings (10-10) – who have now won three straight games – face former Red Wing Marcus Walden in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon. Rochester counters with Myles Jaye (0-1, 6.59) in the matinee.
*NOTES — Earlier in the day, Gregorio Petit had his contract selected by Minnesota and Dietrich Enns was designated for release or assignment…The Wings added INF Sean Miller and C Wynston Sawyer to the roster from Double-A Chattanooga.