Taylor's arm helps prevent big Mets inning twice in Nats' win

The Nationals provided an aggressive start with four quick runs Saturday and Gio Gonzalez did the rest, going 6 2/3 innings for his 13th win of the season in a 9-4 defeat of the Mets.

It all started with defense in the first inning. With a man in scoring position and two outs, Wilmer Flores singled to center field. Michael A. Taylor scooped up the ball and threw home to Matt Wieters, who tagged out Asdrúbal Cabrera sliding near home plate for the third out.

Then, facing Robert Gsellman, the Nats offense reeled off four runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by an Adrian Sanchez's two-run single.

"You want to come out aggressive," said manager Dusty Baker. "It's always nice when you can score early in the game like that. We got four runs right quick, could've got some more, batted around in order and then you start the second inning off the same way you started the first with your leadoff man. That set the tone for the game."

Taylor's big outfield assist early came back to play a role later in the game. Leading 6-4 in the eighth, Kevin Plawecki singled to center. Flores was stopped rounding third when he appeared to have the shot at making it 6-5. But the Mets respected Taylor's arm, and were unable to score another run.

"Any time we can obviously keep runners off the bases and then off the board, that's huge," said left fielder Howie Kendrick (2-for-4, run, RBI, walk). "Mike, he's been doing it since he's been back. I think he's got two or three assists since he's been back, really good arm in center."

Baker said the stop at third base was the key to the win.

"A lot of times they might've sent the runner from second, but Taylor has a reputation that he'll throw you out, which he did earlier in the game," Baker reasoned. "That was big to stop him. A lot of times you've done your job if you can stop 'em. Throwing them out's one thing, but stopping them is equal to, almost, throwing them out."

The defense helped get Gonzalez going, but then he worked his four-pitch arsenal to stymie the Mets, especially his curveball, which has served him well in his 2017 run.

"I think that's a huge strength for me," Gonzalez agreed.

"I think it's the fact that having Matt call it and me being confident to throw it. That's a big plus," he said, adding that he's learned a lot from Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark. "I got to see some of these guys do it in certain counts and see how they pitch and what they want to do in their game plan."

"It's a little bit different, being the only lefty in the rotation, but it does help when you get to see what their approach is on certain at-bats. It's true what they say: Watch the game. It does help. That's what I've been doing, getting a chance to watch it, not only in here but out there. To see what they're doing, what they're seeing, just constantly trying to evolve with the game."