Gio Gonzalez's "masterpiece" helps Nats shut out Mets

FLUSHING, N.Y. - An RBI infield single from rookie center fielder Michael A. Taylor in the second inning and some exceptional early defense was all left-hander Gio Gonzalez needed as the Nationals handed the Mets a 1-0 defeat tonight, their first shutout loss of the season.

Gonzalez's stellar outing got off to a shaky start when Mets center fielder Juan Lagares, the game's second batter, singled up the middle. First baseman Lucas Duda followed with a double into the left field corner. Lagares was running on contact and as left fielder Jayson Werth tracked down the ball, Lagares was already rounding third and sprinting for home. Werth fired a bullet to shortstop Ian Desmond, who relayed a perfect strike from the left field grass to catcher Wilson Ramos to nail Lagares and save a run.

"It was a big play," Werth said. "You never know, early on a play like that could mean the game. Gio pitched great and one was enough for us tonight. The bullpen came in and closed it down. That's why sometimes defense early on is so important. It's gone the other way for us most of the time for us this year, so it's good to get one back."

The importance of the play seemed to fade away as Gonzalez began mowing down Mets hitters but its significance was not lost on Gonzalez.

"Obviously, first inning was a little rough, but thank God Jay (Werth) and Desi took care of that run for me, and then after that I just wanted to be aggressive on the mound and in the strike zone," he said.

That is exactly what Gonzalez did, striking out nine while only allowing six hits and two walks in seven innings. Right-hander Aaron Barrett and lefty Matt Grace combined to shut the Mets down in the eighth, and closer Drew Storen pitched a perfect ninth to secure the Nats' first shutout win of the season.

"Gio had an unbelievable outing so that's No. 1, preserving his masterpiece," Storen said. "He was unbelievable."

Gonzalez made some adjustments after the first, helped by recalling rotation-mate Max Scherzer's effort last night.

"I wanted to be aggressive," Gonzalez said. "I was flying open a little bit. I was nit-picking the corners, trying to be fine with it. And after that, I just figured, 'You know what? Here, just put it in play. Get me out of there. Let me get a couple of strong innings.' I was also watching Maxie throw yesterday. He looked aggressive. He was going after them. That's what I didn't want to do was fall behind on a good hitting team."

Desmond entered the game mired in a 0-for-29 slump. But after breaking out of it with a single in the second, he turned out to be the Nats' only run, scoring moments later on Taylor's infield single.

"This game's funny sometimes," Werth said. "You can fall into a hole an you can't find your way out. So that's good to see a guy get back on the board. Hopefully, that's a game that he can build on."

Desmond, who had a 10-game hitting streak earlier this season, finished the night 2-for-4. Afterward, he was focused on his teammates instead of himself.

"Victory was big," Desmond said. "It was great to see Gio pitch the way he did. He had a lot of conviction tonight."

Gonzalez is now 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA in nine career starts at Citi Field. He was asked after to explain his success in the Big Apple.

"It's New York. It's a beautiful city. It's got great food. ... The weather's amazing. The airport's awesome," said the quirky Gonzalez.

LaGuardia Airport will seem extra special if the Nats can get there with a win tomorrow. Rarely do you see a team talk about the importance of games before summer, but that is where Werth says the mindset is as the Nats stand five games behind the National League East-leading Mets.

"We got a big game tomorrow," Werth said. "A chance to take the series here. You hate to look at early May and say it's a big game, but I think it's probably the biggest game of the year for us."