The Nationals lost this game 9-4 and if we told you that Ryan Zimmerman was 4-4 with 2 home runs and Bryce Harper had a home run you would think the Nationals won this game. Unfortunately Gio Gonzalez gave up 6 runs in only 4 2/3 innings and the game got away early. The Nats did chip away and got within 2 runs until the Cardinals pulled away.
Ryan Zimmerman AGAIN! His 2nd homer of the game for the @Nationals, cutting the Cardinals lead to 6-4 in the 7th. #STLvsWSH
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 29, 2016
The Cardinals scored 4 runs off of Gio Gonzalez in the 2nd inning with 2 outs. It all began with a lead-off walk to Stephen Piscotty and with 2 outs Gio walked Jedd Gyorko who is a .221 hitter to push Piscotty to 2nd. Call-up Greg Garcia stepped into the left-handed batters box with 2 on and 2 outs, and he served a lazy liner into leftfield where Jayson Werth’s depth kept him from catching the ball in the opposite field as Piscotty scored. With the score 1-0, Adam Wainwright was the next batter with 2 outs and 2 on base. Gio’s first pitch to Adam Wainwright was a 91 mph fastball that got the middle outside of the plate and Waino was on it like he was a #3 hitter. Waino’s liner off Gio was over Espinosa and carried into the gap and scored 2 as Wainwright ended up at 2nd with a 2 run double. It was downhill from there. Gio finished the 2nd inning behind and battered as his pitch-count was nearly 50 at that point.
Gio’s night started with so much promise as he struck out the side facing Carpenter, Diaz, and Holliday to start the game.
The Nats drop to 8 games over .500 at a 29-21 record. Ryan Zimmerman raised his batting average 18 points to .244 with his big night. Bryce Harper was the only other offensive highlight.
Stephen Strasburg will try to be the stopper tomorrow.
