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 Gonzalez (9-10) has now allowed an average of two earned runs per
outing over his past six starts.
"I think it's being a part of this rotation," Gonzalez said when
asked about his recent improvement. "They have something going on
that is unbelievable. (Stephen) Strasburg, Jordan (Zimmermann), Doug
Fister, Tanner Roark -- it's fun for me to follow right behind."
To Gonzalez's point, Washington's starting pitchers had a scoreless
streak of 26 2/3 innings until it was snapped by the Marlins in the
second inning on Thursday.
The streak was built by Zimmermann (6 2/3 innings), Strasburg (seven
innings), Roark (seven innings), Blake Treinen (five innings) and,
finally, Gonzalez (one inning).
Gonzalez, who played his high school ball in Miami Dade County,
improved to 6-2 with a 1.67 ERA in his career starts against his
hometown team, the Marlins.
On Thursday, he went seven innings, allowing six hits, no walks and
two runs for his first win (1-1) in Marlins Park, which wasn't
around when he was a star at Pace and Hialeah high schools.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond said the improvement he has seen in
Gonzalez over the past several weeks has been in large part due to
an improved mental outlook.
"It seems like he is controlling his emotions better," Desmond said.
"I think he had gotten concerned with other stuff and had lost
focus.
"(Now), he is quickly adjusting. If he throws his fastball up or if
his arm drops down, he is quickly identifying it and correcting it."
Marlins left-hander Brad Hand (3-8) took the loss, allowing eight
hits and six runs (five earned) in five innings.
Washington (88-64), which clinched its second NL East title in three
years on Tuesday, has won five of its past six games and owns the
best record in the league.
Miami (74-78), which is virtually out of the running for a wild-card
playoff berth, is still within reach of at least a winning record.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the second inning. First baseman
Jeff Baker led off with a single and right fielder Reed Johnson
followed with an RBI double to right-center field.
Washington came back with a five-run fourth inning. After a single
and a steal by third baseman Anthony Rendon and a strikeout by right
fielder Jayson Werth, the Nationals produced five straight two-out
hits.
There was an RBI double by catcher Wilson Ramos and run-scoring
singles by shortstop Ian Desmond, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera
and first baseman Kevin Frandsen.
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"I just ran into trouble -- I couldn't get the out when I needed
it," Hand said. "The balls weren't hit great, but they were finding
spots. That's frustrating."
The Nationals added a run in the fifth inning when Werth's double
knocked in Rendon, who had singled.
The Marlins cut their deficit to 6-2 with one run in the sixth. Left
fielder Christian Yelich doubled, stole third and scored on Baker's
two-out infield single.
Miami received a boost before the game when it got a visit from
injured right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who also met with the media
for the first time since being hit in the face by a fastball from
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Mike Fiers last Thursday.
Stanton, who is out for the year, said the pitch impacted five
teeth, including one that was completely knocked out and four that
were chipped. He needed 10 stitches but said he plans on being ready
to play by spring training.
"It was great to see him and get a chance to chat with him," Marlins
manager Mike Redmond said. "It was big for his teammates to be able
to see him.
"Emotionally, it was tough for us to see him get hurt the way he
did. But, all things considered for what he went through, he looked
good."
NOTES: Washington's streak of homering in 22 straight road games was
snapped. ... Marlins LF Christian Yelich has a 16-game hit streak at
Marlins Park. ... Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, who has been out since
May 9 with an injury that required Tommy John surgery, is set to
begin playing catch on Oct. 1. Fernandez is expected to be ready to
pitch in the majors again by mid-July. ... Washington will start RHP
Doug Fister against Miami RHP Tom Koehler on Friday in the second
game of the four-game series.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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