Gio Gonzalez cruised through 6 2/3 innings of 2-run baseball helped by a bullet throw by Michael Taylor in the first inning to nail Asdrubal Cabrera at homeplate. The Nationals won 9-4 but it got a little rocky in the 8th inning as Brandon Kintzler gave up 2-runs and the lead was down to 2 runs.
The Nationals scored 3-runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to push the game really out of reach.
The Nationals only had 2 of their “regulars” in the game with Anthony Rendon and Matt Wieters and it didn’t matter as every player contributed to this win.
The Nats offense was 6- for-12 in RISP spots, and six starters had 2 or more hits. Michael Taylor had 3-hits and if the official scorer rules a hit for Wilmer Difo in the 1st inning he would have 3 hits also. Matt Wieters was the only Nats starting position player who didn’t get on base safely as he had the 0-for-5.
There was a scary point in the game where Adrian Sanchez got nailed by a 95+ mph fastball in the chest (ruled a swing). For a few moments, Sanchez was face down flat on the ground and luckily was moving. He stayed in the game and laced his second hit of the game before he was removed for a pinch-runner.
Dusty Baker announced after the game that Erick Fedde would start the first game of the doubleheader and Tanner Roark would pitch the nationally televised second game. That could indicate as Dusty Baker said that Max Scherzer might pitch on Monday.
