Gonzalez ready for season after final spring start

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez made his final start of Spring Training during the split-squad Orioles' 5-4 win against the Red Sox on Wednesday. He allowed four runs on seven hits -- including two homers -- over five innings.

The only clean inning Gonzalez had was the fifth. He gave up back-to-back home runs to Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks to lead off the fourth.

"The first inning was good, and then I started struggling a little bit towards the end," Gonzalez said. "But I made some good pitches when I needed to. It was a rough one out there. Fastball was cutting a lot. Couldn't really find it, but towards the end, it was better. Last two innings were better even though I gave up a couple of home runs.

"It was just one of those days," he said.

Gonzalez, who earned the win, improved to 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA in six spring games, five starts. He didn't get to his desired pitch count, but Gonzalez was satisfied with the 79 pitches (47 strikes) he threw.

"Yeah, the pitch count was fine," he said. "We wanted to get up to 90, but I was getting behind guys, walking a couple guys, hitting guys. But overall, it was better."

Gonzalez is set to start for the O's during their series against the Tigers in Detroit.

"I'm ready, ready to go," he said. "I'm excited for Spring Training to end and to start the season."