Every pitch clicks for Cardinals' Gonzales in second spotless start
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Despite the way major league pitching is trending, the ability to throw 95-mph fastballs is not a prerequisite for success.
Just check out Cardinals left-hander Marco Gonzales, who never will be confused with a power pitcher. While he can touch 92-93 mph with his four-seamer, even if he topped out at 90, he would be better than fine.
Of course, it helps to be able to throw that 92-93 pitch wherever you want and also be able to command a nasty changeup, sinker and cutter with the precision of a statistician. Oh yeah, now he's added a curveball that "is on the way" to becoming a plus pitch, according to Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.
Gonzales had 'em all working Wednesday afternoon when he pitched four scoreless innings in a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Talk about pitch efficiency. He needed only 51 pitches to complete his day, and of the 14 batters he faced, he used three or fewer pitches to retire eight and only once did he fall behind 2-0.
"That was outstanding," Matheny said.
Gonzales came into the start on a hot day at Champion Stadium wanting to improve his fastball command over what he showed in his first start last week, and he was pleased with the results.
"That was the main goal and it showed," said the 23-year-old rookie. "The ability to do that opens a lot of things for me. It's evident in quick outs. Longer outings is my main goal for the season, and to be consistent with that."
Even though he wasn't satisfied with his fastball command against the Astros last Saturday, he held them scoreless for two innings. Not only has he put together a six-inning scoreless streak to start his spring, he's allowed hits to only two of the 22 batters he's faced. The lone hit he gave up against Atlanta was a booming double by one of the league's top hitters, Freddie Freeman, and it came with two strikes.
Keep performing like this and Gonzales really could make it a competition with Carlos Martinez for the fifth spot in the rotation, although Gonzales says he's not worried about that.
"I'm just trying to prove myself as a pitcher and an athlete," Gonzales said. "I'm well aware that is up for grabs, but right now we're all just trying to compete and make each other better."
The belief here is that the fifth-starter's job will belong to Martinez, who has what many consider the best stuff on the staff -- including a fastball that tops out at 100 mph. But keep this up and Gonzales could change my thinking, not to mention provide more evidence that you don't need a big-time heater to be a big-time pitcher.
THREE STRIKES
• Wong's 0-fer ends. Kolten Wong ended his 0-for-9 start to spring with a hard one-hopper that Braves shortstop Jace Peterson did not handle in the first inning. Wong also was robbed of a hit when center fielder Eric Young Jr. made a diving catch and he made a productive out in the third with a grounder to first that moved over two runners. Even though Wong has started slowly, his vibe has been much different than last season, when his confidence obviously lagged after some early struggles. Matheny has seen no need to take Wong, bolstered by his three-homer postseason, aside for a pep talk as he did last spring.
"It's a different situation," Matheny said. "I think he proved to himself as much as everybody else that he's got potential to do some pretty special things. Look at the components -- the speed, power, athleticism and the excitement that he brings as a player -- and to be able to do that in October when the heat's turned up and all the outside distractions. That's got to be very encouraging for him."
• Adams handles another lefty. Atlanta's Alex Wood is not Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner, but the 24-year-old is a quality lefty who posted a 2.78 ERA last year. So to see Matt Adams have two good at-bats against Wood is a positive sign in his efforts to improve on last year's .190 batting average against left-handers. Adams did not get a hit off Wood, but he lofted a sacrifice fly that scored the Cardinals' first run, and in his first at-bat he smashed a one-hopper right at the first baseman. Earlier this week, Adams pulled an impressive double off Red Sox lefty Wade Miley as he builds on his postseason success against Kershaw and Bumgarner. Homering off two of the game's best can only help his confidence.
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"It's a good foundation, especially something to remember as you're working, training, thinking about yourself and your game over the entire winter, realizing, 'Hey, (now) tell me I can't hit lefties after I just had these great at-bats,'" Matheny said. "Like the other day, hitting the ball hard off a lefty, it's in the memory bank as a positive to build on."
• Petrick to get Friday start. Right-hander Zach Petrick will take Lance Lynn's start on Friday against the Marlins. Matheny did not want to mess with the schedules of John Lackey and the rest of the rotation, so this figures to be a one-start deal for Petrick, who has worked two scoreless two-inning outings in the first week.
Lackey is expected to take his first start soon, though Matheny has not said exactly when. Lackey said the other day that once he makes his first start, he plans to take his turn on regular four-day rest through the rest of the spring.
Jaime Garcia will make his second start Thursday against the Orioles. Adam Wainwright threw a side session without issue Wednesday but has yet to resume fielding drills and is likely at least a week away from making his spring debut.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
