Going Gonzo, and berserk

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 23, 2010, 7:36am

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Also lost in last night's loss was the first appearance by Michael Gonzalez since April 9. Does anyone remember watching him pitch? Gonzalez replaced starter Kevin Millwood after interim manager Juan Samuel and pitching coach Rick Kranitz were ejected. He gave up a single to Denard Span, retired Orlando Hudson on a fly ball to right, intentionally walked Joe Mauer with first base open and retired Jason Kubel on a ground ball. Gonzalez threw 16 pitches, seven for strikes. His fastball topped out at 93 mph and his ERA dropped to 13.50 in four games. He also did less rocking back and forth. "We thought Gonzalez threw the ball good," Samuel said. "We saw some velocity. He threw some strikes. He threw a couple breaking balls up, but it was also good to see him not missing as many times as he did, and good to see him come in in a situation like that and get his feet wet." I guess many of us were too preoccupied by the seventh-inning fireworks to notice his wet feet.