Gonzales rocked in 12-0 blowout loss to Yankees
Stanton hits two of his three HRs off veteran lefty
TAMPA, Fla. — Ready or not, here it comes. That might be a worrisome sentiment for anyone who watched Marco Gonzales struggle against the Yankees on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Powered by designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who accumulated 1,334 feet worth of home runs against the Pirates left-handed starter, the Yankees went deep four times during a 12-0 rout, raising Gonzales’ spring ERA to 9.88.
The damage started with a 106.4 mph double courtesy of center fielder Aaron Judge in the first inning and never really slowed down. Stanton’s first homer was his longest, a 455-foot blast (110.4 mph exit velocity) immediately after Judge’s double.
Next came shortstop Anthony Volpe, who homered later in the first, lining a 1-2 fastball that was elevated the opposite way.
The damage picked back up in the second inning when Gonzales walked Judge to load the bases. Stanton followed by crushing a cutter down and in (113.2 exit velocity) for a grand slam and an 8-0 Yankees advantage.
In four-plus innings against Gonzales, the Yankees hit nine balls that went at least 100 mph. They were clearly seeing the ball out of Gonzales’ hand. The final tally had Gonzales allowing nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
No Pirates pitcher has permitted more hits (23), earned runs (15) or home runs (4) this spring than Gonzales, who was acquired from the Braves for cash considerations this winter and brought in to theoretically stabilize a thin rotation.
On the mound
Gonzales’ struggling as much as he did was obviously the big story involving Pirates pitchers, but Brent Honeywell Jr. has been trending in the other direction. The good one.
Since being scored upon in back-to-back appearances March 2 and 5, Honeywell has delivered five consecutive scoreless appearances (4 2/3 innings).
At the plate
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz each doubled, continuing their strong springs. The Pirates third baseman entered this one hitting .421 with a 1.147 OPS over his first 13 games, while Cruz was tied for the MLB lead in homers (7) and the Grapefruit League in total bases (32).
More concerns
In large part out of necessity, Gonzales will have a spot in the starting rotation once the regular season starts. By also struggling while working out of the bullpen, Quinn Priester could possibly have seen his spot slip through his fingers.
Priester fared well here his last time out, allowing one run in 4 2/3 innings. However, it was a different story on a lousy night for the Pirates in Tampa. The right-hander permitted three earned runs in three innings of work, with two walks issued and a wild pitch.
Up next
Bailey Falter gets the ball in Thursday’s night game back at LECOM Park. It’ll be his sixth appearance and third straight. Only Gonzales has allowed more than Falter’s 11 earned runs.