Bowyer closes deal

Stopper sets a club record as Wings win

Kevin Oklobzija
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

The moment Kevin West first saw Travis Bowyer jogging in from the bullpen, the Rochester Red Wings reliever had a new name.

"The way I run and the way my arms move, he thought I looked like a rooster," Bowyer explained of his nickname, "Rooster," from his Red Wings teammate.

He may have a unique trot but there's nothing odd about the way Bowyer pitches. He simply provides the Red Wings with something to crow about.

The Wings' new stopper pitched a perfect ninth inning to slam shut a 7-5 victory over the Richmond Braves on Monday afternoon at Frontier Field.

Rob Bowen and Augie Ojeda each drove in two runs during a five-run, second-inning outburst and when starter J.D. Durbin left with a 5-4 lead after four innings, the bullpen made sure the Braves couldn't rally.

Brent Schoening allowed one run and three hits in two innings, Willie Eyre pitched two scoreless innings, then Bowyer retired the Braves in order in the ninth for his International League-leading 12th save. It was his 11th save in May, a Red Wings franchise record.

"We knew we had to score before we got to the ninth," Richmond manager Pat Kelly said. "Eyre was the key. The eighth inning we had the middle of our order up and we go 1-2-3. That's bigger than the closer getting the bottom of the order."

The ninth was really no contest against Bowyer, although Braves shortstop Tony Pena battled and fouled off three two-strike pitches before finally flying out to center for the final out.

"He really battled him and battled him and battled him," Wings interim manager Rich Miller said. "He didn't want to strike out."

Perhaps he knew so many others had suffered the K fate. Bowyer has struck out 27 in his past 18 innings, including Richmond catcher Iker Franco for the second out Monday.

For the season, the 6-foot-3, 228-pound right-hander has 41 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings and opponents are batting just .147 against him.

Not bad for a guy who has never filled the closer's role in his career.

"There's a little more pressure (as the closer), but you have to close the seventh or eighth innings, right?" Bowyer said. "The main thing is staying aggressive with my fastball."

Bowyer, 23, has dominated with that mid-90s fastball but the parent Minnesota Twins say he must learn to use his curve in order to make the next step.

"A closer needs two solid pitches at the major-league level," Miller said. "He's got life on his fastball, he does make hitters miss it, but he needs to use his curve."

The Wings needed an early rally to gain control. Richmond's Andy Marte hit a two-run homer in the top of the second for a 2-0 lead but Rochester retaliated with five in the home half after two were out.

Bowen delivered a two-run single on a 3-2 pitch, Jason Tyner singled home the go-ahead run, then Ojeda laced a double to the warning track in right for a 5-2 lead.

"That's the thing in baseball, when one team gets a lead, the next half inning is the big key," Ojeda said. "A lot of guys contributed."