Gio bounces back in big way with seven strong in dropping Pirates 9-2

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez was looking for a bounce back performance after a struggle last Monday in Tampa Bay. He got exactly that in the Nationals' 9-2 win over the Pirates and a series sweep.

Gonzalez went a season-low 3 1/3 innings in the June 15 6-1 loss at Tampa Bay. He gave up eight hits, five runs, had three walks and only one strikeout.

But Sunday, Gonzalez came out aggressive, and manager Matt Williams said it was because he mixed up his pitch selections early in counts to confuse the Pirates.

"I think he used his curveball a lot more," Williams said. "Threw some changeups, but for the most part his curveball was effective for him. Big spot he got McCutchen on one. And he threw it early in the count, too. As we've talked about it a lot, it makes his fastball late even better. I think more curveballs less changeups today he had a good feel for it early."

Gonzalez said when he can command his curveball early in counts, the rest of his pitches flow better and keeps the hitters off balance.

"I think that's always a big key, especially the way we go about our stuff and work on the pen, I think that working this last start and realizing when I made mistakes and this and that," Gonzalez explained. "Going over some of the hitters, understanding what's more aggressive on them and what's not. I think that once I started throwing and establishing my curveball helped me elevate and move my pitch where I wanted it to be."

Gonzalez had walked three or more batters in three consecutive starts heading into the Father's Day matchup with Pittsburgh. Sunday he surrendered only two free passes, both lead off walks in the third and fourth frames. His defense erased the runners at second base on a fielder's choice and a 6-4-3 double play to end the threats.

"Today I thought he was aggressive," Williams said. "He was aggressive from the first inning, not necessarily pitching laterally, but pitching vertically. For him that's the key. If he can throw strikes, then his stuff's really good. The issues come when he allows base on balls. Today he didn't do that. For the most part, he was throwing it where he wanted to, both in and out, and using the curveball effectively."

Gonzalez got through the first inning after allowing a two-out double to Andrew McCutchen. The Nationals then produced a record first inning with nine runs. Gonzalez responded with a three up, three down second frame. Gonzalez said his mind didn't change with the 9-0 lead and he didn't relax.

"The nine runs, you still go out there, be aggressive," Gonzalez said. "Don't want to give this team a chance to find that sleeping giant. You let a dog lie, I think that's the way we were approaching this was just keep going in there and pound the strike zone. Don't give them any opportunities to score some runs. They started picking up a little bit at the end, but we put in a throw and shut it down."

He also said the booing that Pirates right fielder Jose Tabata received with every at-bat didn't allow him to lose his focus. Tabata was a part of a questionable hit-by-pitch with two outs Saturday in Max Scherzer's no-hitter.

"I just have to do my job," Gonzalez said. "The last start I had wasn't pretty, so I just wanted to go out there and try to keep our team in the game as much as possible and we had guys behind us that were ready to pitch too. I think my response was just to try to help out and try to bounce back from a terrible start. I just wanted to pitch."

Gonzalez will always credit his defense and especially catcher Jose Lobaton. He did again Sunday, deflecting credit, and appreciating the challenge Lobaton gave him as they worked through the game.

"He kept wanting to be aggressive with certain pitches," Gonzalez said. "Different ballgame the way he was calling, it was the way it should be. Just go out there and be aggressive and get your team back in the dugout. It was a hot day, but nothing compared to yesterday's."

Gonzalez also smiled when asked about his first inning RBI double. He said he was motivated seeing Scherzer get a single on Saturday.

"I was just tired of Maxy trying to be No. 1 hitting," Gonzalez said. "Finally bumped up in that ranking of pitcher's that can hit around here. I was just happy. I was just looking for him the whole way. I completely forgot to look at the right fielder. Max is not going to beat me on a base hit, so I'm going to go out there and try to get a double."

And for all the dad's and granddad's out there, Gonzalez was happy to pitch well for the win.

"Nine in the first inning is enough said right there, everything just worked today, something about Father's Day," he said.