Field Level Media
23 May 2022, 17:35 GMT+10
After Marco Gonzales stymied the Toronto Blue Jays last week, allowing one run in six innings, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais was asked why the left-hander doesn't get more credit.
"Marco's not sexy," Servais said.
Gonzales will try to help snap the Mariners' four-game losing streak when they return home to face the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.
Gonzales (2-4, 3.08 ERA) laughed when told of his manager's assessment.
"I'm not sexy," Gonzales said. "Everybody looks at what I got, and they say I don't even touch 90 (mph). But I don't know what else I can say. I'm still here and I'm still making big-league starts and still getting big-league hitters out. So I guess that speaks for itself."
Said Servais: "There are a lot of different ways to get people out, and Marco takes pride in what he does. "
When he steps on the mound, he feels like he can throw 100 (mph). He locates. He changes speeds. He wins. There's a lot to be said for that."
Gonzales helped the Mariners salvage the finale of a three-game series in Toronto, but they had a disastrous weekend in Boston, losing all four games. That included an 8-4 defeat Sunday in 10 innings as the Red Sox's Franchy Cordero hit a walk-off grand slam on an 0-2 pitch with two outs.
The Red Sox hit 10 homers in the series, with five from Trevor Story, whom the Mariners tried to sign as a free agent in the offseason.
The Mariners have allowed a major-league-high 56 homers this season, four more than the next-closest team.
"We've had some adversity early in the season," Servais said. "More than we really bargained for. But that's just the way it goes. You've got to figure out a way to fight through it."
The Mariners hope facing Oakland for the first time this season might change their fortunes. Seattle went 15-4 against the A's in 2021, winning the last 12 meetings.
The A's are 3-7 over their past 10 games, the same record in that span as Seattle.
Oakland has lost two in a row, including a 4-1 defeat Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif.
The A's managed just four hits in the loss and allowed solo homers to Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
The loss spoiled the return from the injured list of Cole Irvin, who posted a quality start.
"I thought he did a great job managing that lineup," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "Getting through six innings was huge for us. The bullpen needed it after (Saturday). He gave us a chance to win."
A's rookie left-hander Zach Logue (2-2, 2.04) is set to make his fourth major-league start on Monday. While Logue has never faced the Mariners, Gonzales is 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 15 career appearances against the A's, including 14 starts.
Oakland outfielder Ramon Laureano is considered day-to-day after getting hit in the right hand by a pitch Saturday.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Toronto Telegraph news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Toronto Telegraph.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were weaker Wednesday, following Tuesday's heady gains when the Dow Jones jumped 741 points. Bond...
SAO PAULO, Brazil: Amid a surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and growing competition in Brazil, Chinese automaker GAC has officially...
CHICAGO, Illinois: McDonald's is closing its experimental beverage spinoff, CosMc's, less than two years after launching the standalone...
BEIJING, China: China's Lenovo reported a steep 64 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit, falling significantly short of analyst expectations...
NEW YORK, New York - Strong economic data jump-started U.S. stocks and the dollar Tuesday, a welcome reprieve after weeks of pressure...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: This week, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dropped its lawsuit against PepsiCo, which had accused...
TORONTO, Canada - Tens of thousands of people from across Canada have marched in support of Israel in a massive turnout in Toronto....
BOSTON, Massachusetts: U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has taken away Harvard University's right to enroll international...
* Over the past weekend, the federal government's policy banning the oldest U.S. university from enrolling international students sparked...
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Patiala House Court of Delhi on Wednesday issued notice on a plea filed by Tahawwur Rana, a key...
In its simplest form, the protracted tensions in Northern Ireland have at their foundation two separate sectarian identities deeply...
In its simplest form, the protracted tensions in Northern Ireland have at their foundation two separate sectarian identities deeply...