Coming off of his worst start of the season, Matt Buschmann was looking to show he has what it takes to make it at the Major League level. If he is looking for references, the Rochester Red Wings are happy to testify on his behalf. The right-hander delivered an outstanding seven inning outing to lead the Louisville Bats to a 3-2 win, moving the club two-games under .500 and eight out of first place in the West Division of the International League.

Buschmann was opposed by left-hander Pat Dean, who entered the game with losses in his two previous starts. The lefty had given up nine earned runs in his last 11 innings pitched, and was looking to get himself back on the right track.

Dean retired the Louisville Bats in order in the top of the first, while his team plated a run in the bottom half of the inning to give him the early lead. Danny Santana doubled to lead-off the bottom of the first and moved to third on a ground out by James Beresford. Two batters later Danny Ortiz delivered the clutch two-out hit to make it 1-0.

The score remained that way until the top of the third when the Bats tied the game. With one out, Ryan LaMarre drilled a Dean pitch over the left-center field wall for his fourth home run of the year. That tied the game.

In the top of the fourth Louisville took the lead, and it was the long ball that was Dean’s undoing again. Hernan Iribarren lined a single to left field to begin the inning, and Josh Satin followed with a towering shot over the left-center field wall for the two-run homer. His third home run of the season gave Louisville the 3-1 lead, a lead they would not surrender.

Buschmann responded after giving up the first inning run by keeping the Rochester Red Wings off the scoreboard for the next five innings. The right-hander allowed four hits and a walk over that span, striking out six through the first six innings of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh the Rochester Red Wings finally plated another run. Santana tripled over the head of the left fielder with one out, and came around to score when Beresford hit a sacrifice fly. That made it 3-2, and a tense ending to the contest was sure to come.

In the bottom of the eight, Jumbo Diaz relieved for Buschmann looking to close out the game. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in the inning, sending it to the ninth with the Red Wings down by a run. In the ninth Eric Farris singled with one out, and was replaced on the base paths on a fielder’s choice by Eric Fryer. A balk moved Fryer to second, putting the tying run just 180-feet away. Santana dug in looking to bring home that run, but Diaz made the perfect pitch to get him to ground out to end the game.

Buschmann (7-5) went 7 innings, allowing 8 hits, a walk and 2 runs. He also struck out 6 in his 101 pitch performance. Diaz allowed a single hit in his two innings of relief for his second save of the season. Dean (5-6) took the loss allowing 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. He struck out 5.

The Rochester Red Wings move on to Pawtucket on Monday. Tyler Duffey (1-4, 4.15) goes for the Red Wings against Zeke Spruill (4-2, 4.33) for the Red Sox.

Boxscore Provided by MiLB.com

By Robert Pannier