PEORIA, Ariz. -- For Marco Gonzales, it was the perfect first step on the road to showing he belongs in the Mariners' rotation.
The 26-year-old southpaw threw two scoreless innings against the defending National League-champion Dodgers, allowing no hits with just one walk and four strikeouts in a sharp outing that set the tone for the Mariners' 2-0 Cactus League victory Sunday at Peoria Stadium.
Gonzales went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) after being acquired from the Cardinals last July, but the Mariners believe he can be much improved now that he's a second year removed from Tommy John surgery.