Gomber gives up four homers to Angels, but he’s not concerned

SCOTTSDA LE, A RIZ.» Austin Gomber was having a splendid spring until the Angels played home run derby Thursday afternoon at Salt River Fields.

They launched four home runs, and had eight hits overall, against the Rockies’ lefty in 5 1/3 innings. So why was Gomber so cool about the Cactus League affair?

“They put a couple of good swings on some balls, and in all honesty, a couple of those balls were a little wind-aided,” he said. “They had a good approach early and they jumped on me really quick with some first-pitch swings the first time through the order, so they got some balls out.

“A couple of pitches I threw I’m not mad about. I mean, that (firstinning) ball to (Shohei) Ohtani is a flyout 90% of the time. So you deal with it and continue to make your pitches.”

Gomber, the main acquisition in the Nolan Arenado trade with St. Louis, has already earned a spot in the Rockies’ rotation. He entered Thursday’s game with a 1.59 ERA over 11 1/3 innings, having allowed just two walks while striking out 12.

Manager Bud Black was not concerned about the four home runs either.

“A couple of those home runs were wind-blow, and that first one to Ohtani, that was a flyball,” he said. “But I think today, maybe it was a little bit about fastball location.”

Cron’s blast. First baseman C.J. Cron’s sixth-inning, 472-foot home run off Dylan Bundy jumped off the bat at 114.7 mph and it left contrails in the desert sky Thursday afternoon.

OK, slight exaggeration. And yes, the wind was blowing out. But that doesn’t discount the run that Cron’s been on and why he’s cliched a starting spot in the lineup.

“I’m just trying to peak at the right time and trying to take this straight to the (regular) season,” Cron said. “That’s kind of what you are hoping for as a hitter in the spring. It’s been feeling pretty good lately.”

His 3-for-3 afternoon included a double and boosted Cron’s Cactus League average to .372.

“He’s shown us what he’s capable of doing,” Black said. “This guy has hit home runs in the past with other teams. We just thought it was going to be a good fit here.”

Footnotes. Jon Gray bruised his right (throwing) hand in Wednesday’s start against the Brewers on a come-backer to the mound but he was fine Thursday and is not expected to miss any time. … Second baseman Brendan Rodgers, sidelined at least a month with a strained right hamstring, is getting closer to resuming baseball activities. “That’s coming in the next five to seven days,” Black said.