Jerry Del Priore
Fireflies’ starting pitcher Merandy Gonzalez is proving to be superhuman.
The right-handed hurler extended his win streak to four after Columbia (12-9) shut-out the Ashville Tourist, 5-0, Wednesday afternoon at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Gonzalez, a former Brooklyn Cyclone and current New York Mets’ prospect, tossed 7.2 strong innings, scattering five hits and two bases-on-balls in the Fireflies’ victory. Reliever Matt Blackmon, who also pitched for Brooklyn, closed out the game with 1.1 innings of no-run baseball.
Gonzalez lengthened his scoreless stretch to 28.1 innings to open the 2017 campaign.
In four starts, The Cotui, Dominican Republic, native, who Baseball America named as New York’s 2017 breakout prospect, has allowed just 15 hits, fanned 23 batters, and allowed only three walks during that span.
Special notes: Gonzalez is the only starter in all of professional baseball, MLB and MiLB included, with a 4-0 record and 0.00 ERA this season.
Shortstop Michael Paez, another ex-Cyclone, doubled and smacked his second homer of the year.
