Severino Gonzalez roughed up by Cardinals in MLB debut

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ST. LOUIS – The worst thing that could have happened to Severino Gonzalez probably occurred 24 hours before his major-league debut, when the St. Louis Cardinals were held to just one run over seven innings by Cole Hamels in a Phillies’ win Monday night.

It’s tough to hold the NL Central-leading Cardinals down two nights in a row, even tougher when you’re a 22-year-old who has made all of three appearances above the Double A level.

And so Gonzalez’s first trip to a big-league mound was a difficult one Tuesday night. He was pounded for 10 hits and seven runs and did not make it out of the third inning in an 11-5 loss (see Instant Replay).

Gonzalez, the Phillies’ minor-league pitcher of the year in 2013, is not an overpowering guy. He must put the ball in good spots to have success. That didn’t happen.

“Unfortunately, my command wasn’t there,” he said. “One thing I learned is I need to keep the ball down up here. That’s one thing that’s different. That’s for sure.”

Gonzalez received a rugged welcome when he allowed a triple, a double and a single in giving up two runs in the first inning.

The top four hitters in the Cardinals’ order — Jon Jay, Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday and Matt Adams — accounted for 10 hits on the night.

Gonzalez had a difficult time establishing his secondary pitches because the Cardinals were so aggressive against his low-90s fastball early in counts.

“It seemed like he didn’t establish both sides of the plate with his fastball, keeping them honest,” manager Ryne Sandberg said of Gonzalez. “It seemed like most of the balls were over the plate and they’d get extended and get good swings.

“It was an experience for him. I’m sure that he would like to make some adjustments next time out. You never know, he might have had some jitters.”

Gonzalez confirmed that he was “excited.” He said it was a thrill to pitch to fellow Panamanian Carlos Ruiz, who he said was a father figure. He said he would use the experience as a learning tool for his next start Sunday in Miami.

“The next one will be better,” he said. “Unfortunately, this was not my night.”

Gonzalez wasn’t unique in that.

The Phillies’ offense, despite scoring five runs, almost twice their majors-worst season average, was just 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies are ranked last in the majors in that category at .177 (28 for 158).

The Phillies, 8-13 on the young season, do lead the majors in something, but it’s nothing to be proud of. Their pitchers have issued 86 walks. Six of those walks came Tuesday night and five them turned into runs. Two of Gonzalez’s walks became runs. Two of Jake Diekman’s walks became runs. One Justin De Fratus walk became a run.

“We’re not helping ourselves in that department,” Sandberg said. “We talk about staring off over the plate at the knees and expanding. I’d say mainly out of the bullpen guys coming in and walking guys. That’s not doing us any favors.”

Diekman has been particularly perplexing. He has allowed 10 earned runs over nine innings so far. He has walked nine and struck out 10.

Freddy Galvis continued to swing a hot bat with three hits. He’s up to .368.

Will Sandberg move him up from eighth in the order?

“I’ll figure that out as we go along,” he said.

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