Gio Gonzalez started the afternoon with two earned runs allowed in 16 1⁄3 innings this Spring, but the Washington Nationals’ left-hander had a rough day at the ballpark in West Palm Beach, giving up six hits, two walks and five earned runs in five innings of work in what ended up a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros in The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Gonzalez gave up his second home run of the Spring, walked more than one batter for the first time in six Grapefruit League starts, and saw his pitch count balloon quickly with 30 and 20-pitch innings in each of his last two frames.