Southern League-MiLB.Com Player of the Month-August
Published on September 1, 2016 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announces the Southern League-MiLB.com Player of the Month for August. Lefthander Stephen Gonsalves of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Minnesota Twins) was selected for the honors after dominating league batters last month.
Over 32.2 innings in five starts during August, Gonsalves allowed just three runs, only one of which was earned, producing a league-low 0.28 ERA. The southpaw from San Diego, California also paced the circuit with a miniscule 0.73 WHIP and batting average against of .125. Compiling a 4-0 record over his five starts, Gonsalves finished the month of July second in the league with 37 strikeouts against just 13 hits and 11 walks.
Gonsalves' first start of the month came on August 4 in Mobile, where he tossed six innings of three-hit baseball. Although he surrendered one unearned run with two walks, he struck out eight BayBears batters over that time. Seven days later, on August 11 in Birmingham, Gonsalves began his stretch of four consecutive wins. Pacing his club to a 7-1 victory, the Lookouts hurler fired a nine-inning, complete game decision. Allowing just another lone unearned run on three hits in the win, the lefty struck out eight more batters versus two walks.
With his best start of the month on August 17, Gonsalves pitched six innings of no-hit baseball, allowing just two walks and fanning nine batters. After his 6-3 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits, he was named the SL Pitcher of the Week Award on August 22. Later that day, in Jacksonville, the Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) HS product continued his strong run with his third victory in as many tries. While he allowed his only earned run of August over his six innings of work, Gonsalves scattered just two hits and struck out six Suns batters. He capped his remarkable month with his eighth victory of the season on August 27, pitching 5.2 shutout innings on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
The Minnesota Twins selected Gonsalves with their third round pick of the 2013 Draft. He was a Twins MiLB.com Organizational All-Star and Baseball America Low Class-A All-Star after the 2015 season. Before arriving in Chattanooga midseason, Gonsalves was named to the 2016 Florida State League All-Star Game.
Southern League Stories from September 1, 2016
- Generals Fall Short to Chattanooga in Opener, 3-2 - Jackson Generals
- Pensacola Knocks 15 Hits in 11-8 Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Young's Four Hits Not Enough, as Biscuits Beat Smokies, 3-2 - Knoxville Smokies
- Shuckers Drop Opener at Mississippi - Biloxi Shuckers
- September 1, 2016: M-Braves Roster Moves - Mississippi Braves
- Southern League-MiLB.Com Player of the Month-August - SL1
- Suns Announce Roster Move - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Five Shuckers to Represent Brewers in Arizona Fall League - Biloxi Shuckers
- Generals vs. Chattanooga - Jackson Generals
- BayBears Finish 2016 Home Schedule with 5-3 Win - Mobile BayBears
- Barons Fall to Smokies 8-7 in Series Finale - Birmingham Barons
- Pensacola Drops Series Finale to Suns - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Martin's Game-Saving Grab Seals Smokies' 8-7 Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Shuckers 2, Generals 0 | | Shuckers Take Series From - Biloxi Shuckers
- Offense Quiet in Finale Defeat - Jackson Generals
- Suns End Road Trip to Pensacola with 4-1 Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Fall to BayBears, Remain in First Place - Montgomery Biscuits
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