Gwinnett's Newcomb withstands perfection

Facing an opposing arm putting up perfection, Sean Newcomb stepped up his game.
Atlanta's No. 5 prospect matched a career high with 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings, dueling with Hector Velazquez -- who exited after six perfect innings -- as Triple-A Gwinnett fell to Pawtucket, 2-0, on a walk-off homer by Bryce Brentz. Newcomb allowed a hit and two walks over seven frames.

A dominant tone was established early as neither hurler allowed a hit over the game's first 3 1/2 innings. Newcomb pitched around walks to Steve Selsky in the second inning and Jantzen Witte to lead off the third. Sam Travis notched the game's first hit for Pawtucket -- and the only one Newcomb allowed -- when he singled to right field with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but the southpaw stranded him there.
Following the single, Newcomb retired the final 11 men he faced to close his afternoon. The 23-year-old fanned at least one batter in every inning, whiffing Selsky and Brentz for his final two outs in the seventh. The 11 K's were his most since June 16, 2015 with Class A Advanced Inland Empire in the Anaheim system against Bakersfield.
Box score
Newcomb allowed 10 runs -- nine earned -- over his first 11 2/3 innings this season, but found his rhythm in the next start. Dating back to his third outing, the Hartford product hasn't allowed a run in 15 straight frames. In his last two outings, Newcomb has given up three hits and six walks while fanning 17 in 12 innings.

On the other side, Velazquez was better for nearly as long. Pawtucket's 28-year-old righty didn't allow a baserunner over six innings, turning in a perfect day on just 55 pitches. Velazquez struck out four and distributed his other outs with six in the air against four on the ground.
Velazquez is in his first season in affiliated ball, having signed with the Red Sox after seven seasons in the Triple-A Mexican League. Over that time, the Ciudad Obregon, Sonora native went 70-51 with a 3.88 ERA in 237 games, making 195 starts for Campeche, Obregon, Novojoa and Monclova.

Following his departure, Velazquez's staff held the line behind him. Edgar Olmos allowed a single to MLB.com's No. 8 overall prospect Ozzie Albies to lead off the seventh and break up the perfect-game bid, but otherwise pitched two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out three. Robbie Ross Jr. tossed a scoreless ninth.
After getting two quick outs in the home half of the ninth, Gwinnett reliever Caleb Dirks yielded a Selsky single to center. Brentz followed with a walk-off homer to left, his fourth blast of the season.