Courtesy of RedWingsBaseball.com
By Nick Sciarratta and Jim Erbland
Marcus Walden allowed two base runners over six innings, helping the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 7-2 win over the Rochester Red Wings Friday night at Frontier Field. The series continues Saturday afternoon at 1:35 p.m.
Lefty Adalberto Mejia got the start for the Red Wings. He struck out four batters in the first two innings but ran into trouble in the third. He gave up hits to three of the first four batters that he faced including a bases-clearing double by Steve Selsky. Mejia’s rough inning continued after second baseman Tommy Field’s errant throw to first base scored Selsky making the score 3-0 Sox. After giving up a walk to Sam Travis and a single to Jantzen Witte, Mejia was able to get himself out of major trouble by inducing an inning-ending double play.
Mejia’s day ended early, going just four innings giving up six runs, eight hits, three walks and five strike outs. He threw 83 pitches (52 strikes).
Pawtucket right-hander and former Red Wing Walden started the game by retiring the first eight batters he saw before giving up a walk to Bengie Gonzalez . Walden didn’t let up a hit until the fifth inning with two outs, when Leonardo Reginatto poked a single to left field.
The Paw Sox struck again the the top of the fourth with three consecutive RBI doubles from Rusney Castillo, Selsky and Travis making the score 6-0.
Walden was outstanding, allowing just two base runners in his six innings pitched. Walden struck out four, and threw 73 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Justin Haley pitched one inning as part of his rehab assignment from the Twins, striking out two. D.J. Baxendale worked three innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run while striking out three.
Niko Goodrum hit a triple off Chandler Shepherd in the eighth inning, and appeared to be shaken up after a hard slide but stayed in the game. Reginatto followed with a base hit, scoring Goodrum and breaking up the shutout. A sacrifice fly from J.B. Shuck brought in Reginatto to make the score 7-2.
Raul Fernandez pitched the ninth inning for the Wings, retiring all three batters he faced.
Winning Pitcher: Walden (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Mejia (0-1)
Save: none
NOTES: On Friday the Twins purchased the contract of Wings RHP Drew Rucinski, recalled INF/OF Ehire Adrianza from his rehab assignment here, and sent RHP Justin Haley to Rochester on a rehab assignment. OF Zack Granite was activated from the DL, and joined the Wings Friday…The Twins also designated INF/OF Danny Santana for assignment.
SATURDAY, MAY 6 vs. PAWTUCKET RED SOX – 1:35 pm
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