Gonzalez happy with three shutout innings (Nats lose 3-1)

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez did quite well for himself in his final tune-up before the regular season. Although it was only three innings, he still did not allow a run on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. Gonzalez threw 37 pitches, 26 for strikes.

The only hit was a leadoff single from Twins second baseman Brian Dozier. After that Gonzalez was able to settle in nicely the rest of the way. He credited catcher Miguel Montero and new Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist for guiding him in the right direction on a cold Tuesday afternoon.

"I was talking to Lilly and Miguel and I was telling them how I felt on certain pitches and (Montero) saw a little something and kept telling me 'Just throw it. This is the time to work on what you need to work on,'" Gonzalez said.

"I felt fine going after hitters. But as far as that, I just felt like I was rushing at times, so that was a big help from Lilly and Miguel."

Gonzalez said his breaking pitches, including his curveball and changeup against Joe Mauer in the final at-bat, finally clicked after a shaky start.

"It did. It did in the last inning," Gonzalez said. "At certain times I tried to do too much with it and that's where I was talking about Lilly and Miguel, (they said) just throw it and feel comfortable, just attack. It worked. It felt good in the last inning and got what I wanted."

Game-time temperature was 46 degrees, a stark contrast from what Gonzalez was used to in West Palm Beach and growing up in Haileah, Fla. But Gonzalez knows that early in the regular season the weather could be a factor.

"I think it's a shock for everyone," Gonzalez said. "I don't think anyone gets accustomed to cold weather. I don't think anyone likes cold weather. I think it might be the one time of the year that it's like, 'Let's get Thanksgiving and Christmas over with so we can get back to warm weather.' It's really cold. Really cold."

Manager Davey Martinez opted to pull Gonzalez after just three innings and a total of 37 pitches.

"I'm fine with it," Gonzalez said. "The whole time I was just trying to get a feel for it just to see how I feel. I'm glad he let me go out there and pitch, especially in this condition, see what it feels like to actually pitch in the cold weather.

"(It) kind of prepares you a little bit to see what you are getting yourself into, especially going into Cincinnati, and hopefully it's a little warmer in both Cincinnati and Atlanta. Hopefully it's not as bad."

If the schedule plays out on course this first week of the season, Gonzalez is scheduled to pitch the finale in Cincinnati Sunday afternoon. Weather.com estimates the temperature will be around 46 degrees and skies will be mostly cloudy, similar to what he faced in D.C. Tuesday.

But as a veteran, the 32-year-old Gonzalez knows he will have to pitch well regardless of the weather conditions.

"You can only cry about it here," Gonzalez smiled. "You can't go out there and cry about it. I'm sure they will have a heater on, so we will be fine."

After six and a half innings, the Nats and Twins are tied at 1-1. Trea Turner homered for the Nats, his first of the spring. Ehire Adrianza hit a solo homer to tie it for Minnesota.

Update: The Twins took the lead in the ninth. After loading the bases with one out, Trevor Gott allowed a Mitch Garver two-run single.

Update II: The Nats went quietly in the bottom half after Matt Magill walked Matt Reynolds. Final score: Twins 3, Nationals 1.