One "crooked number inning" dooms Gonzalez; Werth and Turner shine

CINCINNATI - The second inning was the one bad inning for Gio Gonzalez this time around.

The Reds scored four runs on six hits in the second Friday night en route to a 7-2 victory over the Nationals to open their three-game set at the Great American Ball Park.

It was the second inning May 28 against the Cardinals when Gonzalez allowed four runs. It was the third inning May 23 versus the Mets. He gave up five in that frame.

It's added up to three losses in a row.

But Gonzalez kept battling within all those tough starts and gave his team a chance each time to come back. He finished six innings, surrendering only one more run and two hits after the second inning rough patch.

"That's why we sent him out there in the sixth, cause we need him to get himself together and leave on a positive note," said manager Dusty Baker. "We need Gio. We need him to break this streak that he's on. He's had a hard time staying out of that crooked number inning."

Gonzalez knew the second inning wasn't good, but he took some solace in how he limited the Reds for most of the rest of his outing.

"One bad inning, it was the second inning and even then I'm going to look at the positive," Gonzalez said. "I threw pitches with conviction, some of those hits you just got to tip your cap. There's nothing you can do. I threw some of those pitches where I wanted to throw and infield hit, little bloop over shortstop, can't do nothing.

"Just tip your cap, they put the ball in play and that situation. If I was to go back at it, even the home run that's a good down and in pitch, he hit it right over the wall.

The Nationals' offense could never really get going against Reds left-handed starter Brandon Finnegan, except for a couple of big hits: Jayson Werth and Trea Turner did connect.

Werth hit his ninth homer of the season to get the Nationals on the board. He said he feels like he's getting to a nice consistency at the plate after a slow April and part of May.

"You'd like to have a higher average and better on-base percentage," Werth said. "But I still think there's plenty of the season left to get there. I've been working on through some things. Didn't start off so hot the first couple of weeks, kind of put myself in a hole.

"(I'm) working in the right direction. The team has been winning, so that's the most important thing. I got a lot of season left to get it going and get it right and I plan on doing that."

The team called up Turner to sub for Ryan Zimmerman, who is on paternity leave.

Turner went 3-for-3, a career-high in hits, with a double, two singles and a walk. Turner said he knew Finnegan pretty well and that helped him continue feeling where he was at the plate while with Triple-A Syracuse.

"I actually faced him last year in one of the few starts I had," Turner said. "I played with him in college so I've got a background on him.

"I think that's what you gotta do. You've gotta simplify it and it doesn't matter who's on the mound, you've got to make it easier on yourself and the more complicated you make it for yourself the tougher the at-bat is going to go. I tried to keep it simple and hopefully good things happen."

Turner now has 11 hits in his last seven games.

"He was hot coming in here," Baker said. "That's why I had him in the lineup. I thought that was the best spot in the lineup for him tonight. The young man had a good night, he had a very good night."

Werth has appreciated what he has seen from the 22-year-old Turner since last year and then into March in Viera, Fla.

"Exciting player, he's got a lot to offer," Werth said. "He's young, he's fast. He can hit a little bit, too. He showed good signs today and in spring training. I think the sky's the limit for this kid. We'll see how it shakes out. He's here right now for Zim and he had a good first day."

For Turner, returning to the major leagues and notching three base hits got his adrenaline going, but he would have felt good if he done that at any level.

"I think good games are confidence boosters no matter where you are," Turner said. "That goes for everything, not just hitting, but defense and base running. It was nice to get off to a quick start and not have to press.

"If I get more opportunities to play, continue to relax, continue hitting and try to help the team win and hopefully tomorrow we can go out there and hopefully get a W."