Williams recaps Nats' 6-2 win over Marlins
By Dan Kolko
MIAMI - Can't get much more of a well-rounded win than tonight's victory over the Marlins.
Gio Gonzalez threw seven strong innings, allowing just two runs, seven Nationals had at least one hit, the defense was solid and the baserunning was aggressive and smart in a 6-2 win over Miami.
Gonzalez continued his string of solid outings by pitching well in his hometown in front of lots of family members and friends, Bryce Harper had three hits, and Craig Stammen and Rafael Soriano combined to work two scoreless innings in relief without allowing a baserunner.
Here's Matt Williams after the win:
On how nice it was to see the intensity level high two days after clinching the division: "We made a point about going first-to-third. It's really important to us. In that inning, we did it a bunch. I was really pleased with the way Gio threw it. He could've gone back out, but wanted to make sure that he's ready for his next one, as well. He threw really well. Changeups were really good. Curveball really good. And a good-velocity fastball tonight, too, when he wanted it. That may be the best I've seen him since he was back from his mini stint with the shoulder issue. He was really good."
On Gonzalez throwing a curveball for strikes early in the count: "Much better. It just sometimes steals him a strike. If I was, as a hitter, going to walk up there, I'm certainly not gonna look for that first pitch. I'm gonna try and get a fastball to hit. So if he can do that, it steals him and strike and then it opens it up for him. He's been doing that a lot."
On Gonzalez pitching well of late: "I just think he has better feel. We look back to not too long ago when his slot was off, he was losing control of the fastball up and away to righties and didn't have a feel for his curveball. But he has that back, which is important for him. If he can do that, he can roll through a lineup because he's throwing them all for strikes. I think he just has better feel. And spending time on the DL, it takes time to get that back."
On Soriano's outing: "A lot of breaking balls down in the zone tonight, which is good. It's a little bit bigger tilt breaking ball tonight. But the ball's down. He got ahead two strikes and threw a high fastball for a strikeout. But the majority of them were down in the strike zone away from the righty. That's good. Those mechanical things have proven to be good for him. I was really impressed with the breaking ball tonight."
On how important it would be to see him pitch well over the final 10 regular season games: "It's important for him. We've got confidence in him. It's not too long ago that he was considered for the All-Star team. It's not that there's a different guy. He got a little bit out of whack mechanically, and paid for it. But he's working hard to get back to it and get back to being able to throw the ball where he wants to."
On the win overall: "We had a big inning and Gio pitched well and kept them at bay. And the bullpen came in and shut it down. All-around team effort tonight. Good win for us."
On Harper lately: "I just think he's stronger. You miss two months with a thumb injury and come back from it, regardless of how much time you spend on the disabled list, it's not like playing a consistent number of games. I think his thumb is better. It blows up on him from time to time, but the strength is better, I think, and of course, consistent at-bats and seeing the ball every day helps. Tonight was a really good example of what he can do against a lefty. Stayed back on a breaking ball away and drove it to left-center field and felt really good about that."
On how nice it was to see the intensity level high two days after clinching the division: "We made a point about going first-to-third. It's really important to us. In that inning, we did it a bunch. I was really pleased with the way Gio threw it. He could've gone back out, but wanted to make sure that he's ready for his next one, as well. He threw really well. Changeups were really good. Curveball really good. And a good-velocity fastball tonight, too, when he wanted it. That may be the best I've seen him since he was back from his mini stint with the shoulder issue. He was really good."
On Gonzalez throwing a curveball for strikes early in the count: "Much better. It just sometimes steals him a strike. If I was, as a hitter, going to walk up there, I'm certainly not gonna look for that first pitch. I'm gonna try and get a fastball to hit. So if he can do that, it steals him and strike and then it opens it up for him. He's been doing that a lot."
On Gonzalez pitching well of late: "I just think he has better feel. We look back to not too long ago when his slot was off, he was losing control of the fastball up and away to righties and didn't have a feel for his curveball. But he has that back, which is important for him. If he can do that, he can roll through a lineup because he's throwing them all for strikes. I think he just has better feel. And spending time on the DL, it takes time to get that back."
On Soriano's outing: "A lot of breaking balls down in the zone tonight, which is good. It's a little bit bigger tilt breaking ball tonight. But the ball's down. He got ahead two strikes and threw a high fastball for a strikeout. But the majority of them were down in the strike zone away from the righty. That's good. Those mechanical things have proven to be good for him. I was really impressed with the breaking ball tonight."
On how important it would be to see him pitch well over the final 10 regular season games: "It's important for him. We've got confidence in him. It's not too long ago that he was considered for the All-Star team. It's not that there's a different guy. He got a little bit out of whack mechanically, and paid for it. But he's working hard to get back to it and get back to being able to throw the ball where he wants to."
On the win overall: "We had a big inning and Gio pitched well and kept them at bay. And the bullpen came in and shut it down. All-around team effort tonight. Good win for us."
On Harper lately: "I just think he's stronger. You miss two months with a thumb injury and come back from it, regardless of how much time you spend on the disabled list, it's not like playing a consistent number of games. I think his thumb is better. It blows up on him from time to time, but the strength is better, I think, and of course, consistent at-bats and seeing the ball every day helps. Tonight was a really good example of what he can do against a lefty. Stayed back on a breaking ball away and drove it to left-center field and felt really good about that."
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