Marco Gonzales feels ‘ready to go’ after final Mariners intrasquad start
As he has been known to do, Marco Gonzales asked for another inning Saturday evening at T-Mobile Park.
Considering this was his final intrasquad start before Opening Day, his request to face a few more teammates was turned down. But, the important takeaway is Gonzales, named the Seattle Mariners ace for the second consecutive season, feels ready.
“My plan is to push and go as much as I can,” Gonzales said on a video call following his four complete innings of work. “I was asking for another inning out there, and I was only scheduled for three, but I feel ready to go.
“My body feels strong, and with a six-man rotation we get a little extra rest, so I wanted to push it a little bit.”
Gonzales said he was looking to exceed 50 pitches, but he only ended up needing 49 to cycle through a lineup that included most of Seattle’s presumed Opening Day starters twice.
He allowed two runs on six hits, but struck out three without walking a batter, and said his command felt sharper than his first intrasquad outing earlier in the week, when his pitch count ticked up quickly.
Gonzales worked with pitching coach Pete Woodworth and catchers Tom Murphy and Austin Nola throughout the week to work on his timing and iron out a few other kinks.
“Today was a real big step in the right direction,” he said. “I was very, very convicted in everything that I threw. My curveball showed up today, which is a huge weapon for me, and my fastball to both sides of the plate, up and down, it just felt really good coming out of my hand. So really happy with the work we put in.”
Despite the absence of fans in the ballpark, and pitching against his own teammates, the intensity of intrasquad games has been up, Gonzales said.
“It’s not a normal game setting, but at the same time, when I see Vogey (Daniel Vogelbach) step in the box, or any one of those guys, something about it makes me want to switch it on another gear and get after it.
“Kudos to my teammates and the way we run this camp. I think we’ve been able to simulate some pretty good competition.”
When Gonzales opens the season Friday in Houston, he’s aiming, as always, to pitch as deep into the game as he can.
“As a starting pitcher, something I pride myself on is being able to carry the team deep into the game,” he said. “That’s my No. 1 priority is to eat up as many innings as I can, and go out and win a ballgame.”
SHORT HOPS
Outfielder Mallex Smith and utility player Dylan Moore both played their first intrasquad games since arriving at camp earlier this week after clearing health protocols. Smith spoke to reporters following the game, but did not comment about the reason for his late arrival. He started in his usual spot in center field and finished 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. Moore started at second and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. … After being scratched from the lineup earlier in the week, Dee Gordon returned and went 3-for-5 with a RBI and stolen base. … Sam Haggerty and Patrick Wisdom, who are both fighting for a utility spot on Seattle’s roster, each finished 2-for-3, and Wisdom recorded three RBI, including crushing a two-run homer into Edgar’s Cantina in left field. … Evan White notched a pair of hits off Gonzales, including a double and RBI single. … Shed Long also recorded a pair of hits. … Top pitching prospect Logan Gilbert tossed a pair of scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. The highlight was when Gilbert fell behind 3-0 to Kelenic before eventually striking Kelenic out swinging. … Relievers Joey Gerber, Brandon Williamson, Matt Magill, Nick Margevicius, Dan Altavilla, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Erik Swanson all appeared. … Saturday’s game lasted a full nine innings and ended in a 4-4 tie. The Steelheads continue to lead the Pilots in the intrasquad series, 4-2-2.
ON TAP
The Mariners will play their ninth intrasquad game Sunday, beginning at 6:10 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Mariners’ YouTube and Twitch channels.
