WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —Lefthander Austin Gomber, whose 2019 season effectively ended in mid-May when he encountered biceps tendinitis after going 4-0 at Memphis, appeared back in form Sunday.
Before the game, manager Mike Shildt said, “I think his stuff is just as crisp as I remember.”
“Crisp” would be one way to describe Gomber’s second Grapefruit League start. “Dominant” would be good, too. Gomber, who was 7-3 for the Cardinals in 2018, faced nine Houston hitters in three innings, striking out four. Only one Astro, much-booed Jose Altuve, reached base on a single in the first but was cut down at second by catcher Andrew Knizner as Altuve tried to advance on a short wild pitch.