Miguel Gonzalez shows improvement in second start (O's lose 5-1)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Red Sox 5, Orioles 1

Recap: Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run and three hits in 2 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch limit. Brock Holt, the second batter of the game, homered off Gonzalez. Darren O'Day gave up one run in the fourth after Boston loaded the bases with no outs. Nolan Reimold doubled to lead off the bottom of the first. Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo singled in the third. J.J. Hardy singled and tripled in his first two at-bats, and he scored on Joey Rickard's grounder in the fourth. Trumbo singled twice. Odrisamer Despaigne gave up a run in the sixth on two hits and a hit batter. Todd Redmond allowed a run in the seventh. Dale Thayer gave up a run in the ninth.

Need to know: Gonzalez threw 46 pitches, 30 for strikes. The Orioles used an infield shift against Travis Shaw and David Murphy, with Jonathan Schoop moving into shallow right field. Machado made a sensational diving stop and throw from his knees to rob Chris Young and hold Mookie Betts at third. Hardy singled, Schoop reached on an infield hit and Rickard singled in the second to load the bases with two outs, but Reimold struck out with the count full. Matt Wieters, catching in back-to-back games, threw out Shaw trying to steal. Despaigne has been charged with five runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings this spring. Today's attendance: 7,894, the second sellout of the spring. The Orioles are 0-8-1.

On deck: Wednesday, vs. Phillies in Clearwater, 1:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - If Miguel Gonzalez was searching for improvement after his first spring start, he found it today against the Red Sox.

Gonzalez allowed one run and three hits in 2 2/3 innings, with one walk and one strikeout. He threw 46 pitches, 30 for strikes.

Reaching his pitch limit, Gonzalez left the game after Chris Young fouled out to catcher Matt Wieters. Brock Holt struck out looking to open the inning.

Gonzalez's debut against the Rays didn't go smoothly, to say the least. He was charged with seven runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings in Port Charlotte, though he was kind enough to provide an injury update on Jimmy Paredes.

Holt homered with one out in the top of the first inning to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Young followed with a single, but Travis Shaw popped up and David Murphy grounded into a force against the shift.

Gonzalez threw 23 pitches, 15 for strikes in the first.

Gonzalez fell into a jam in the second after a leadoff single by Allen Craig and walk to Jackie Bradley Jr. Deven Marrero bounced into a force on the next pitch, Christian Vazquez bounced to the mound and Mookie Betts grounded to short.

In the second, Gonzalez threw 10 of his 16 pitches for strikes.

Back out for the third, Gonzalez got two outs on seven pitches and headed to the dugout. Andy Oliver replaced him and allowed a single to Shaw, who was thrown out trying to steal second base.

Wieters, catching on back-to-back days, fired a perfect strike to cut down Shaw. Nothing wrong with that arm.

Ubaldo Jimenez remains the only Orioles starter to complete three innigs.

Nolan Reimold poked a double down the right field line on the first pitch from Red Sox left-hander Roenis Elias. Chris Davis walked with one out, but Adam Jones grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the second on singles by J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard. Reimold ran the count full, but he struck out swinging.

Rickard continues to impress the Orioles and I continue to insist that his chances of breaking camp with the team are improving. He's a plus defender who can be used as a late-inning replacement and he brings much-needed speed.

Update: The Red Sox loaded the bases against Darren O'Day with no outs in the fourth and settled for one run on a double play. The Orioles got the run back in the bottom half on Hardy's leadoff triple and Rickard's grounder.

Red Sox 2, Orioles 1.

Gonzalez met with reporters outside the clubhouse and appeared to be satisfied with his outing.

"I kept the ball down. We did what we had to do. Got my work in. That's what matters," Gonzalez said.

"My fastball command was better toward the end and my splitty was there. Threw a couple good sliders. I haven't been throwing them as much. This is the first time out I've been throwing them. I felt good overall."

Gonzalez had a bounceback start that the Orioles hope leads to a bounceback season.

"Mentally, when things aren't going well, you just put yourself down," he said. "You've just got to get up and put your head down and work hard. Wiety (Matt Wieters), great job back there like always. Our defense played good."

Gonzalez didn't have much to say about Pedro Alvarez.

"Anyone's more than welcome on our team," he said. "We'll make him feel welcome. It's going to be a good thing."

Update II: The Red Sox increased their lead to 3-1 in the sixth after Odrisamer Despaigne loaded the bases with one out on a double, single and hit batter. Todd Redmond gave up a run in the seventh.