Lobaton's bat helps lift Gonzalez, Nats to 8-4 win

Catcher Jose Lobaton does not get many chances to start.

Usually, it is only on the fifth day as left-hander Gio Gonzalez's personal backstop.

So when Lobaton gets his shot to play, he likes to make the most of it.

Friday night, he was a key component in an 8-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

In addition to calling a good game for Gonzalez, Lobaton smacked two hits, including a spectacular triple that highlighted a three-run fourth, giving the Nationals a commanding 7-0 lead.

Lobaton smiled when asked when he knew he had hit a triple.

"I figured that out when I was at third," Lobaton said. "I stepped on second and it was like, 'Why not just do it?' When I was half between second and third, I was like, 'Oh my god, what am I doing here?' It was great. I'm happy for that. You know that doesn't happen every time, so I got to enjoy it."

It almost was an out at third, however. In Lobaton's enthusiasm to get to third, he slid over the bag and had to dive back in before being called safe.

"It was good. When I slide, the ball went down to my legs," Lobaton said. "I roll into the ball, so that hurt a little bit. That's what I passed, I couldn't control my body and then I passed the bag. That was great, that was a good moment. That was funny for the team."

Gonzalez also smiled when asked about Lobaton's overslide and then dive-back triple.

"I mean, slow it down, cowboy," Gonzalez said. "It's good to see Loby, and it almost felt like he was just having fun (like) a little kid playing a baseball game out there. To see Loby go out there and smile and play the game he knows how to play and enjoy, it's always a plus when you see your catcher doing those big things and just enjoying them and having fun."

Gonzalez tossed six solid innings for the Nationals, including three batters in the seventh, to earn his first win of the season. He allowed six hits, three runs, two earned, one walk and struck out eight.

The Twins scored two runs in the seventh thanks to an Eduardo Nunez two-run single. But Gonzalez has now turned in three straight impressive starts to begin the season, surrendering a total of three earned runs over 19 innings.

Gonzalez said Lobaton did a nice job of staying with the game plan set up for the Twins.

"Stay on target, mix it in and out," Gonzalez said. "That's a good hitting team, they just kept swinging, kept swinging. I was trying to move the ball up and down, side to side, but it was tough. It was just they kept going and kept swinging, so I try to do my best to keep the ball down."

Gonzalez said the reason he can get into a nice groove is because of Nationals catchers Wilson Ramos and Lobaton.

"I'd like to throw to both of them," Gonzalez said. "These two guys are big pieces in my career, and I've been around these guys for five seasons now and I'd take them both, either way. These guys always do their homework."

Manager Dusty Baker said Gonzalez has really done a nice job of pacing himself during his starts. But what has been the biggest positive that he has seen coming from these first starts for Gonzalez?

"Probably the command of his pitches," Baker said. "And the calmness in which he's approaching pitching. He appears very confident and calm, that's what's been most impressive.

"We would have loved him to go through that inning, but we knew he was around that 85-88 mph mark and we just thought that that was enough with the capable bullpen that we have."

Lobaton also sees that calmness in Gonzalez's game this year. He helps keep the lefty going and third baseman Anthony Rendon coming over during the outing also helps Gonzalez gather himself between pitches.

"He's been working a lot mentally because it is a big part for the game," Lobaton said. "He's been trying to breathe a lot. He always talks to (Anthony) Rendon and that something good. I like that. Sometimes he needs time. You get tired because of whatever. He covers first, who covers third.

"Sometimes you needed somebody else to say something, like, 'Hey, relax, you're doing good.' It's not only time the catcher does that, sometimes you need it from the infield. That's great for him because I think it's been helping a lot."

Lobaton said a win like this one is even more special when he can contribute both on offense and on calling the game.

"It's great," Lobaton said. "One thing that I want to do is do something good for the team. I've tried to concentrate more on being a good catcher and call a good game for Gio. But at same time, I want to do something good for the team. Want to help in getting some RBIs and runs and triples, maybe."

Of course, Lobaton would like to start every game. But he is perfectly happy contributing to a good ballclub and focusing on catching when Gonzalez gets the nod every fifth day.

"I love my job," Lobaton said. "I love what I'm doing. I try to enjoy every day. And if I'm not playing, I try to have fun and that's part of my game."