District Daily: Nationals News 5/11
By Pablo Roa
May 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Gio Gonzalez(47) works in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
If you need a way to try to forget about last night’s heartbreaking loss, distract yourself with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web:
Hand feeling better, McLouth back in starting lineup
OAKLAND — Nate McLouth was back in the Washington starting lineup on Saturday for the first time since cutting his hand while colliding with a wall on Monday making a diving catch. The veteran outfielder appeared as a ninth-inning defensive replacement on Wednesday but had been otherwise giving his hand time to recover.
“There was no way it would have healed if I kept swinging,” McClouth said. “But I hit [Friday], and it’s good to go.”
McLouth has a small bandage near the knuckle at the base of his right index finger. While grabbing the ball on defense hasn’t been much of a problem, he’s noticed the injury when swinging the bat. Read full article here.
Gio relishes opportunity to be back in Oakland
OAKLAND — Gio Gonzalez was the most popular man at O.Co Coliseum on Friday as the Nationals made the franchise’s first trip to Oakland.
The lefty made his big league debut with the A’s in 2008, and stayed with the organization until being traded to Washington in a multi-player deal that also includes current Oakland catcher Derek Norris and leftyTommy Milone. From the sounds of it, Gonzalez was shaking a lot of hands as he returned to the Coliseum for the first time as a visitor.
“Saw some grounds-crew guys, clubbies, security guards — I basically talk to everybody. Even guys in the parking lot,” Gonazlez said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling when people still remember you, and they acknowledge that it was fun while I was here.” Read full article here.
Former Athletics, Blevins and Gonzalez, make first trip to Oakland as Nationals
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
Before Friday’s series-opening game against Oakland, the first meeting between the Athletics and Nationals since 2005, Gio Gonzalez emerged from the visitor’s dugout at O.co Coliseum for the first time. “Sitting on the other side was kinda weird,” he said. In his first trip back to Oakland since he was traded to Washington in December 2011, Gonzalez hugged every member of the grounds crew preparing the field for batting practice. Gonzalez spent his formative professional baseball years with the Athletics, pitched for them for four seasons and earned his first all-star selection in 2011.
“I saw some former teammates,” Gonzalez said later. “Saw some ground crew guys, clubbies, security guards. I basically talk to anybody. Even guys in the parking lot. It’s a pretty cool feeling when guys still remember you. It was fun when I was here.” Read full article here.