Jacob Gonzalez put a bow on what could be an award-winning week by going 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles against the Norfolk Tides on Sunday. Gonzalez finished the week 10-for-21 with four homers, two doubles and 12 RBIs, which is good for a line of .476/.542/1.143.
It coincides with a series at Truist Field, where Gonzalez has made himself at home. He's hitting .351/.471/.784 with 12 of his 14 homers at Charlotte, compared to .238/.347/.413 elsewhere, and when you see his home run spray chart, you more or less get it.
Even the skeptic read on Gonzalez can acknowledge progress, because Gonzalez couldn't hit anywhere at Triple-A last year, and there are probably eight homers that would be out in most parks. Still, it's fair to say he's figured out how to lift the ball to the pull field, and the ballpark is meeting him halfway. At least Chicago in the summer is a fine place to hit the ball in the air to right field and see what happens, if and when he gets his chance in the majors.
Charlotte 15, Norfolk 3
- Rikuu Nishida reached base all five times, singling thrice and walking twice. He was caught stealing.
- Braden Montgomery went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Jacob Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles.
- Ryan Galanie was 2-for-4 with a homer off an eephus, walk and stolen base.
- Duncan Davitt: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 48 of 62 pitches for strikes.
- Jordan Leasure: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 11 of 17 pitches for strikes.
- Ben Peoples' ERA is down to 0.83: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 14 of 22 pitches for strikes.
Highlights:
*This Gonzalez homer would've gone out at a lot of parks: 99.3 mph off the bat, 362 feet.
Birmingham 6, Rocket City 5
- Colby Shelton was 1-for-3 with a sac fly.
- Anthony DePIno, 2-for-4.
- Samuel Zavala was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Jeral Perez, just 0-for-4.
Winston-Salem 7, Wilmington 5
- Kyle Lodise was 1-for-4 with an HBP.
- Caleb Bonemer, 2-for-5 with his 14th homer.
- Boston Smith was 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base.
- George Wolkow went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Pierce George: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 11 of 21 pitches for strikes.
Highlights:
*Bonemer's blast:
Kannapolis 9, Charleston 3
- Abraham Nunez went 1-for-4 with an HBP.
- Billy Carlson was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Jaden Fauske, 0-for-2 with a sac fly, two walks and a stolen base.
- Javier Mogollón went 3-for-5 with a double, strikeout and stolen base.
- Matthew Boughton went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts and a stolen base.
- Rylan Galvan singled, walked twice and struck out twice.
- Alexander Albertus, 1-for-3 with two walks.
