Gonsalves posts five zeros for Lookouts

On paper, Monday's start looked like Stephen Gonsalves' finest of the season. But the Twins' top pitching prospect has some notes on it.
"I was getting to 0-1, 0-2, 1-2 quickly. Those are our strikeout counts, and we're supposed to get into a competitive space and go after [hitters]," he said. "I didn't. That made it so I got to 2-2, and sometimes I forced it to go to 3-2. We went to 3-2 seven or eight times."
Still, the No. 81 overall prospect turned in his first scoreless start and win of the year, scattering two hits and three walks while striking out eight over five innings in Double-A Chattanooga's 4-2 win over visiting Jackson.

Gameday box score
Gonsalves (1-2) sports a 2.45 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 22 innings. He missed the first month-and-a-half of the season after experiencing shoulder discomfort during Spring Training. It felt eerily similar to the strain that sidelined him for several weeks of the Arizona Fall League in October.
"That was the first injury I've ever had -- knock on wood -- and since it looked like it was recurring, of course I got a little nervous," the left-hander said. "I went in for an MRI right away, and when it showed there was nothing physically wrong, it was just rest, get back to it and make sure I use my body correctly."
In Fort Myers, Florida, Gonsalves worked with Minnesota assistant Minor League rehab coordinator Corey Dietze and Rookie-level Gulf Coast League pitching coach Cibney Bello to make some changes to the 22-year-old's mechanics.
"They got me tuned up real nice. The shoulder issue was almost a blessing in disguise, the way I was able to work with them," Gonsalves said. "I'm pitching with more of my body, getting my core into it, using more of my legs. I think that's what got me working in the 90-94 [mph] range tonight, compared to working 88-92 sometimes last year.
"I was throwing exclusively with my arm, and we think that's what made my shoulder hurt. Now that my body is more in tune with itself and I'm using my legs to drive off the hill, it's going to be a lot more comfortable."

Of the seven full counts the San Diego native reached, five came in the first two frames. In the first inning, leadoff man Colin Walsh reached on a fielding error by shortstop Nick Gordon and Gonsalves issued a two-out walk to fourth-ranked D-backs prospectDawel Lugo. Although the 6-foot-5 hurler ended the threat with a punchout, a funky tone was set.
The Lookouts sent eight men to the plate in the bottom half, scoring three runs and extending Gonsalves' time on the bench.
"Tonight was a slow game. I think it combined for over a half an hour for the first inning," he said. "I was able to get into my head more, and I think I overthought some things. I tried to compete a little too hard and I ended up throwing some pitches that turned out to be waste pitches."
The 2013 fourth-round pick gave up a pair of singles in the second and was otherwise perfect beyond walks in the third and fifth. In that frame, he struck out the next three in a row, which carried his pitch count to 96, including 57 strikes.
"I think the walks just came from it being the long game," Gonsalves said. "Two hours [after first pitch], we were only in the fifth. That drains yourself, and I was sitting down for 10 or 15 minutes between innings." 
Still, he felt no signs of fatigue.
"This was only my fourth outing, so I'm feeling really fresh right now. Of course, I wanted to get out and at least throw the sixth inning for the team, but we have the most amazing bullpen," Gonsalves said. "Jake Reed is great, better than ever, and John Curtiss was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month [for May]. ... I was mad I wasn't out there, but knowing our bullpen, I was thinking right away that we had the win locked up."
Reed, Minnesota's No. 20 prospect, allowed one hit and struck out two over two innings. Curtiss snuffed out an eighth-inning rally and fanned three over final 1 1/3 innings for his 11th save.
Gordon, MLB.com's No. 42 overall prospect, roped an RBI double and stole a base.