Berrios, Wings Blank PawSox
April 21, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Jose Berrios struck out seven in seven innings of one-hit ball, leading the Red Wings to a 5-0 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox Thursday afternoon at Frontier Field. John Hicks had two hits, including his first homer of the season as the Wings snapped a five-game losing streak.
The Wings open a three-game set with Buffalo (Blue Jays) Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Complete promotions details below....
Berrios led all the minor leagues in strikeouts in 2015 with 175, and on Thursday Berrios notched two strikeouts in the top of the first inning.
PawSox starter Brian Johnson came into the game with just three walks in his first two starts, but walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning - after walking lead-off hitter Darin Mastroianni in the bottom of the first. Johnson caught Heiker Meneses looking at a called third strike, as the Wings couldn't capitalize on the opportunity
Berrios was sharp, allowing just a walk while striking out five of the first 10 batters he faced.
In the Wings' half of the third inning, Wilfredo Tovar lined a single to left field for the first hit of the day, and Reynaldo Rodriguez followed with a single - and on the play, Tovar hustled to third base with Rodriguez advancing to second base on the throw. Kenny Vargas hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Jantzen Witte, and Tovar scored when Witte's throw to home bounced to the plate. Base-running hustle gave the Wings a second run, when Rodriguez bluffed a tag on Adam Brett Walker's flyball out. Left fielder Chris Marrero threw to third base attempting to catch Rodriguez off the base, but Marrero's throw was wild and Rodriguez raced home to give the Wings a 2-0 lead.
Meneses led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple, and Mastroianni's sacrifice fly to right field brought home Meneses to make the score 3-0.
Through five innings, Berrios had notched seven strikeouts while throwing 68 pitches, with a first inning walk the only baserunner allowed. In the top of the sixth, Witte blooped a single to right field for the first hit off Berrios. Sean Coyle followed with an infield hit off Tovar's glove, to give the PawSox two one and none out. Berrios got a flyball out, then made a fine defensive play to start an inning-ending double play with Tovar and Vargas.
Johnson (1-2) was done after pitching five innings, having allowed three hits, three runs (one earned), and five walks with five strikeouts. Anthony Varvaro took over to face the Wings in the sixth, and gave up back-to-back singles with one out to Hicks and Stephen Wickens. Varvaro struck out Meneses, but walked Mastroianni to load the bases for the second time in the game. Varvaro picked Wickens off second base, escaping the jam.
Wickens quickly redeemed himself in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Wickens dove to take away an extra base hit by Justin Maxwell that was heading to the left field corner. Wickens quickly got up and threw a strike to Vargas at first base for the third out.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Wings made it 4-0 when Tovar singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a double by Vargas.
Berrios (2-0) pitched seven innings with just two hits allowed, walking one and striking out seven. He threw 93 pitches, 61 for strikes. Brandon Kintzler relieved Berrios to start the eighth inning.
Hicks launched a line drive home run off Pat Light in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Hicks his second straight two-hit game.
Kintzler allowed one hit in 1.1 innings of relief, and Taylor Rogers took over with one out and none on in the ninth inning. Rogers allowed back-to-back singles, then got an game-ending double play grounder. It was the third double play of the game for the Wings' defense.
NOTES: C Carlos Paulino was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga to the Red Wings on Thursday. Paulino hit .257 in 34 games with the Wings last season.
International League Stories from April 21, 2016
- Herd Battles Back, Defeat RailRiders 6-5 - Buffalo Bisons
- Durham Edges Tides in 10 - Norfolk Tides
- Bisons Rally to Stun Railriders - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Toledo Shut out in Loss to Columbus - Toledo Mud Hens
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- IronPigs Beat Chiefs in Series Finale - Syracuse Mets
- Pigs Use 17-Hit Outburst to Top Chiefs, 10-2 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Berrios, Wings Blank PawSox - Rochester Red Wings
- Red Wings, Berrios Thwart Perfect Road Trip - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Charlotte 49ers Standout Barnette Promoted to the Knights - Charlotte Knights
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Pigs Look to Keep Good Times Rolling - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons Notes /15 - Buffalo at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6:35 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Railriders Add Three to Yankees Legends Series - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Bulls Return to DBAP for Six-Game Homestand - Durham Bulls
- Chiefs Add Keyes, Ballou and De Los Santos to Roster - Syracuse Mets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
