Gonzalez works on finding holes

BOSTONAlthough he matched a season high, for the sixth time, with three hits, Adrian Gonzalez insisted he was doing nothing differently. It was really nothing more than a matter of holes.And being able to find them so balls could drop in for hits.The last time Gonzalezwho went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIhad had three hits was Friday in Toronto, along with two RBI. In the four games in between, though, he had gone just 2-for-17 with a double and a strikeout.Although he is now hitting .373 (22-for-59) with runners in scoring position, and leads the American League with 21 doubles, the questions have been dogging Gonzalez. His numbers are down across the board from what they usually are. He has just four home runs, the last on May 27. His last walk was May 15.At this point last season, he had 11 home runs. His average is well below last seasons .338, as is his on-base percentage (.316 entering the game, .410 last season), and his slugging percentage (.406; .548).Still, for Gonzalez, who was hitting sixth in the order for the second straight dayand first time since 2006, his first season with the Padresit was just a matter of holes.Ive been feeling comfortable since that first game in Toronto, he said. Where I hit in the lineup has nothing to do with how I do and it doesnt have to do anything with anything else either. Just finding hits, balls finding holes.With two outs and the bases loaded in the first, Gonzalez drove in the Sox first two runs of the game, proving to be the game-winner in their 7-0 win over the Orioles in the finale of the three-game series. He doubled to right field, scoring Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis on the third pitch from Os lefty Brian Matusz, on a 1-1 slider.Asked if hes been working on his swing, Gonzalez answered succinctly.
No.Perhaps a game like this is something for him to build on.Yesterdays yesterday, and todays today, Gonzalez said. Different pitcher, different situation. Just was able to keep the ball fair. Today with the bases loaded that was big for us to get ahead in the game and winning pitcher Clay Buchholz took care of the rest.Gonzalez entered the game batting .270 against lefties. His second hit off Matusz, a single to lead off the third, ended the Baltimore leftys outing.Manager Bobby Valentine thought taking those first two pitches from Matusz might have helped, giving Gonzalez a better look at Matusz. Gonzalez, though, begged to differ.Nothing new with taking pitches, said Gonzalez, who raised his average 11 points to .272. No, Ive been taking first pitch for the last, what, five, six, seven days. And then the next pitch is a ball. I was ready to swing after the first pitch, nothing changed.I was looking fastball down. He threw a slider in and just was able to keep it fair.But it was good to get a game like that.It was great, Gonzalez said. Great, and we needed that win especially against Baltimore here at home and get back on a winning track and look for a series win against Washington this weekend.And for him, personally?Well, Ive been hitting the ball good, he said. Just havent been finding holes and today they found holes.So, what has he been working on?Finding holes, he said.