Gonzalez not worried about all the walks, glad team earned win

The story line for the Nationals' 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks Wednesday centered around the four shutout innings from Jacob Turner.

Despite seven walks from left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez, the veteran did manage to keep his club in the game with a chance to win. Gonzalez ended up allowing only one run on three hits. But that is what Gonzalez wanted to talk about after the game: the victory.

Not his season-high seven walks.

"A win. Flat out, I don't know what to say," Gonzalez said. "He pitched a better game and he's looking at the other end of the stick. (Robbie) Ray did a great job and he battled his tail off. Just one of these games you can't explain. I don't know what to say. It was just our night."

His counterpart, former Nationals prospect and current Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray, pitched very well, striking out 10 and allowing just two runs in absorbing the hard-luck loss.

The seven walks were the most Gonzalez had allowed since his time with the Oakland A's (2008-2011). He had never walked more than five while with the Nationals. The seven walks matched a Nationals club record set by Tony Armas and Matt Chico.

Gonzalez said the biggest reason he was able to keep his focus was the pitch-calling of catcher Matt Wieters.

"First off, catcher was a big reason why I was still in that game, and it just made it easier for Dusty (Baker) to give me a chance to finish that inning," Gonzalez said. "But Matty was a big part of it and the (Anthony) Rendon making that tag, that's the only reason I was still in that fifth inning. As far as that, I can't explain that line. I guess (I'll be) working on it in the bullpen."

The key moment for Gonzalez came in the fifth after he had walked three straight batters with two outs. With the bases loaded and the game tied 1-1, Gonzalez struck out Brandon Drury to end the threat.

"Gio walked a lot, struck out a lot," manager Dusty Baker said. "Got out of trouble a couple times. That strikeout of Drury with the bases loaded and he was over 100 pitches. And it gave us a chance to win."

Gonzalez said he remained focused on Wieters after allowing an early homer to Chris Owings and then the multiple walks.

"The only mistake pitch I had was the changeup," Gonzalez said. "If I get that pitch down and away it's a different result. That pitch just cut right back over the plate. And gave Owings a chance to put his team on the board. I like our choices. I like where we are at. Even when I shake him off, feels like we're on the same page of what we want."

Gonzalez said all credit goes to what Turner was able to do. But he was also happy he was able to provide the RBI groundout in the third that got his club on the board.

"I don't know what to say. A win. Jacob, great job," Gonzalez said. "That's the guy you want to talk to. That's the guy you actually want to get more words out of. Me, my game's irrelevant now. His game was the best. Hey, I can't do it on the mound. I'll try to swing the bat. Maybe I'll do something on that."