Pelicans' Wolff blows away Red Sox

Looking at Sam Wolff's stat line, you wouldn't think he has an overpowering fastball, which is just the way he prefers it.

The Rangers' No. 20 prospect allowed two hits over 6 1/3 innings on Saturday, pitching Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach to a 3-0 blanking of Salem at LewisGale Field.

Wolff (1-1), who took a one-hitter into the seventh, walked three batters and struck out three in the longest outing of his two-year professional career. The University of New Mexico product induced 10 ground-ball outs, including a pair of double plays.

"Honestly, it was just filling up the zone, really attacking the hitters," said Wolff, who noted his fastball sits around 93-94 mph. "The first couple of innings, I was using the fastball to jump ahead of hitters. [I was] really getting my defense involved. They turned a couple of double plays behind me, which was really big."

Given the velocity of his fastball, the number of strikeouts may surprise casual observers. But Wolff, who turns 23 on Monday, makes it a point to work quickly and keep his defense involved, eschewing working into strikeout counts in favor of speedy outs.

"I've talked to a number of position players and they've said they prefer a pitcher who keeps them on their feet. And starting in my senior year of college that's one thing that's really stuck with me," Wolff said. "Let's keep it going, next pitch, keep these position players on the balls of their feet and get them back into the dugout as fast as possible."

Through two Carolina League starts, Wolff has allowed one run and three hits over 11 1/3 innings. The 2013 sixth-round Draft pick spent all of last season working out of the bullpen for Short-Season Spokane and Class A Hickory.

"This is my first year of starting in pro ball and it's a learning curve for me," the right-hander said. "I'm trying to do everything to the best of my abilities as far as pounding the zone and getting as deep into the game as possible. Getting a result within a couple of pitches rather than trying to get to too many full counts. It's important and it's a process and I'm trying to stick with the process.

"My defense has been flawless for me, making double plays, catching fly balls. Trying to keep the tempo going and get back in the field as fast as possible."

Wolff exited after surrendering a one-out single in the seventh to David Chester, giving way to Code Ege, who fanned one over 2 2/3 hitless innings for his first Carolina League save.

"I have full confidence in our bullpen, and Cody came in and was lights-out and really shut the door," Wolff said. "It's always nice to have someone like that come into the game to really close it out."

Joey Gallo, Texas' fifth-ranked prospect, drove in a run for the fourth straight game for the Pelicans. After starting the season 3-for-17, he's batting .500 (7-for-14) over his last four games. Odubel Herrera chipped in two hits, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored.

Red Sox starter Corey Littrell fell to 0-1 after allowing two runs on six hits while fanning seven over six innings.