Hamburger deals seven scoreless in Wings 4-0 win
In the midst of a 1-4 road trip and a 3-9 skid over their last 12 games, Mark Hamburger picked a good time to turn in the best start of his career.
The right-hander - who was making a spot start for Yohan Pino promoted to Minnesota earlier in the day - tossed seven shutout innings as the Red Wings rolled to a 4-0 win over the Durham Bulls on Tuesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
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Hamburger (2-1), making just his fourth start of the year between New Britain (AA) and Rochester, allowed just four hits (all singles) and no walks while striking out a career-high nine over a career-best seven innings.
Tuesday marked the first time a Wings starter tossed at least seven shutout innings since Pino back on June 12 vs. Lehigh Valley. It was the first outing of at least seven shutout innings by a Wings pitcher on the road this season.
Hamburger had things on cruise control until a pair of two-out singles in the seventh inning put runners on the corners. However, Hamburger induced Jayson Nix to ground out to Pedro Florimon at third to end the threat and his outing.
Ryan Pressly navigated the final two innings, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out four. Pressly has now thrown two innings in four of the Wings' nine shutouts this season.
Tuesday's shutout was the first by the Wings since June 12 vs. Lehigh Valley and their first white washing on the road since August 11 of last season at Norfolk.
The Red Wings offense did most of their damage off Durham starter Matt Andriese in the fifth inning. Already leading 1-0, Rochester scored three runs on an RBI groundout from Eric Farris, a two-out RBI single from James Beresford and a runs scoring double from Josmil Pinto off the "Blue Monster" in left field.
Deibinson Romero's leadoff double in the second inning, his IL-leading 29th of the season, set up the Wings' first run.
The Wings send Alex Meyer (5-4, 3.30) to the hill in Game Three of this series on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
WINGS THINGS: The Wings are now 10-3 on Tuesday's this season and haven't lost on a Tuesday since May 27 vs. Syracuse…Like Hamburger, Sean Gilmartin, who started Game One of this series on Monday, struck out nine without issuing a walk as well…Chris Rahl went 1-for-4 and is now 9-for-20 (.450) on the road trip and batting .373 in 14 July games…The Wings collected 4 more doubles on Tuesday, giving them an IL-best 220 on the season.