Daniel Gossett threw seven strong innings for the High-A Stockton Ports on Wednesday, marking his second straight encouraging outing to begin the season. The right-hander limited the Lancaster JetHawks (Astros) to three runs, only one of which was earned, and he struck out seven batters while issuing only one walk. His overall line through two games:
Gossett, 2 starts: 12 ip, 13 Ks, 4 BB, 1 HR, 9 hits, 3 ER
There are two reasons in particular to be encouraged by those numbers: the strikeout rate, and the low hits and homers. Gossett, the Oakland A's second-round draft pick in 2014, only struck out seven batters per nine innings last season for Single-A Beloit, and he profiled as a pitch-to-contact guy who pounds the zone.