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06/09/2009 2:22 AM ET
Gonzalez wildly effective for Cats
Southpaw overcomes six walks to allow one hit over six frames
By John Torenli / Special to MLB.com
Gio Gonzalez posted a 7.27 ERA during two appearances with Oakland last month. (Brent Asay/MiLB.com)

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Oakland manager Bob Geren said last month that Gio Gonzalez would have to improve his control if he wanted to return to the Major Leagues.

Gonzalez threw plenty of strikes while firing six one-hit innings during Sacramento's 3-2 victory over the visiting Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Monday night, but the six walks he issued probably cost him a shot at going deeper in the game.

"A couple of pitches got away from me, plus you have to be careful with these hitters," Gonzalez said after throwing 94 pitches, including 49 strikes. "I was trying to get them to put it where my defense could make a play on it. I kept my team in the game."

The 23-year-old left-hander did more than that, striking out a season-high nine and limiting the Sky Sox to Matt Miller's one-out single up the middle in the fourth inning.

"I've been working down here three times as hard," said Gonzalez, who had two brief stints with Oakland in May after going 1-4 with a 7.68 ERA in 10 appearances during his first taste of big league action last year.

"I'm working on my changeup, which is a really important pitch to have in the Majors. The two times I've been called up [this season] have been right off the plane and get going."

It was obvious from the outset Monday that Gonzalez was ready for a big effort -- albeit one that came with a few free passes. He walked a batter in four of the first five frames and two more in the sixth, but each of those runners was stranded as the former first-round pick (38th overall in 2004) navigated his way through the Colorado Springs lineup.

Gonzalez struck out two in the opening frame, one in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth, fifth and sixth.

Though he did not receive a decision for the performance, Gonzalez has pitched progressively better since being optioned from Oakland on May 19.

The Hialeah, Fla., native gave up four runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings against Omaha on May 24, but has limited his last three opponents to a run on five hits over 19 innings.

Gonzalez surrendered seven runs on 11 hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings in his two big league outings last month. He and fellow right-hander Sean Gallagher were demoted simultaneously, and Geren was asked whether Gonzalez might be a candidate for an open rotation spot.

"No. I need both him and Sean to improve their strike-throwing," the skipper said.

Thus far, Gonzalez is doing his best to get another shot at the Majors. And he's hoping for more than a cameo appearance this time around.

"Anybody wants a shot to get up there and stay up there," he said. "But I have to be patient. I'm giving it as much as I can. Our whole pitching rotation is going out there and trying to win. We are trying not only to do it for the Sacramento River Cats, but for the Oakland Athletics too."

John Torenli is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.