After extra time off, Gonzalez keeps the ball down for win against Giants

The Nationals edged the Giants 2-1 on a dramatic two-run shot from Clint Robinson and the calm and methodical pitching of left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was frustrated last Saturday when the rain in Philadelphia forced a postponement after he had tossed only 18 pitches. The rainout also forced Gonzalez into an extra day of rest. Sometimes that additional time off throws some starters out of rhythm.

But Gonzalez (6-4) was on target Friday, going seven innings and allowing just a solo homer to Buster Posey, along with four other hits, no walks and he struck out six to earn the win.

"He was strong tonight," said manager Matt Williams. "Of course the heavy layoff was important for him to get his work in in between. He was really strong. The ball was coming out great. He was able to throw his changeups and curveballs for strikes and locate well with the fastball, too. He pitched really well for us."

"Adapt to the weather again, rain, my best friend," Gonzalez said.

"It's tough. I have had a rough career with extra rest. To see that bounce back, especially against a great team like the Giants is a breath of fresh air especially with (catcher Jose Lobaton) calling a great game and working on what I needed to work on, which was attacking the strike zone and keeping it down."

That was the key, keep the ball low in the strike zone. Never allowing the Giants to get a good handle on his pitches.

"Kind of like gassed myself up so I can keep the ball down instead of trying to amp it up and try to throw it hard. It was just trying to locate it and keep it down," Gonzalez said.

Even Posey's homer was a low pitch.

"The ball (was) down," Williams said. "It may not have been a strike. Buster is a good hitter. He's got great power the other way. He stayed on that one. I thought Gio was in command of all of his pitches from the first inning tonight."

"What can I do," Gonzalez said of Posey's homer. "I tamed him for a little bit then he got his pitch and he made me pay. That's part of baseball."

The Giants managed single hits to lead off the first three frames. Gonzalez managed to bear down each time and not allow a runner past second base. Only Posey ran around the bases because of his home run.

And there is history between the franchises in the postseason. The Nationals were 5-2 against the Giants in the regular season last year. But in October in the divisional series, the Giants took down the Nationals 3-1, paving the way to a world championship.

So did this win in July mean more because it was against last year's playoff adversary?

"I think at the end of the day that's a well respected team," Gonzalez said. "That's a great lineup. These guys play their tail off, and I give credit to our bullpen, too, who shut it down when it came down to it.

"That's a great lineup. You can't ignore anyone of those guys. Even their third baseman is stepping it up, (Matt) Duffy. He's unbelievable, he's a great player."

Gonzalez also had a shot at a homer himself in the third inning. He hit a ball off of Jake Peavy that was called foul but looked like maybe it just might have curved inside the foul pole. It was called foul. On review, the call was confirmed. Gonzalez knew it wasn't a homer, even though he ended up close to second base on his trot.

"I knew it was foul off the bat," Gonzalez said. "I didn't want him to think I was showing up. I was just trying to keep my head down. I didn't even know what was going on. Typical thing that goes on, don't know if it's fair, don't know if it's off the wall or it's gone. That's the signature Gio Gonzalez move."

The player that did hit the homer for the Nationals, Clint Robinson, said he could sense that Gonzalez really wanted the game Friday against the Giants.

"He was chomping at the bit," Robinson said. "He wasn't really happy with the way things went down in Philly. I know he was rearing and ready to go to get back on the mound and give us another good outing. He did exactly what he needed to do tonight to win us a ballgame."