Stephen Gonsalves is the top pitching prospect for the Minnesota Twins.
photo by Tim Evearitt
LHP Stephen Gonsalves threw seven innings, leading the Chattanooga Lookouts over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in a 6-1 win on Friday night. Rain was in the area, but had no effect on the game.
The Lookouts were supposed to begin the second half of their season on Thursday, but rain pushed the game to Friday. Gonsalves was on the mound and had a terrific outing.
The left-hander gave up just one run on three hits over seven innings. He walked just one and struck out nine in his 101 pitches thrown. He improved to 3-3 and dropped his ERA to 2.85. Gonsalves has 41 strikeouts in 51 innings since joining the Lookouts from extended Spring Training.
After the game, Gonsalves was asked what worked for him in the game.
“Tonight was little bit of everything. We had fastballs a majority of time getting ahead, had two 0-0 sliders, two 0-0 curveballs that worked nicely to keep them guessing because this was an ambush team, so kept them from swinging at first pitch.
Anytime I fell behind tonight (1-0, 2-1), I threw my change up which was either swing and miss or soft ground ball. Struck out seven of nine with the curveball tonight, so it's been very good in 0-2, 1-2.
Other than that, my slider has been turning into a backdoor pitch to righties to get back into counts. But tonight was all about getting ahead and staying aggressive in with fastball and soft away.”
Chattanooga went up 5-0 in the fourth. Levi Michael may have struck out three times in this game, but the one time he didn’t, he launched a three-run homer in the fourth. It was the big hit for the Lookouts on this night.
Jonathan Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with his 11th double. Edgar Corcino was 2-for-4 with his 13th double. Nick Gordon went 0-for-3, but walked and scored a run.
Keury Mella (2-5) went five innings for Pensacola, allowing five runs and three hits. He also struck out four and walked two.
The Lookouts bullpen did its job. Nick Anderson gave up two hits, but struck out two batters in a scoreless eighth frame. Alex Muren gave up a hit, but no runs to close it out in the ninth.
With the win, Chattanooga, winners of the North Division's first half, remains undefeated (6-0) against Pensacola this season.
Box
Chattanooga and Pensacola meet in game two Saturday night. Felix Jorge (8-1) gets the start for the Lookouts. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
-- Source: MiLB.com, Twins Daily
Levi Michael hit a three-run homer for the Lookouts.
photo by Tim Evearitt