Nationals Get Blown Out; Lose 9-1

May 11, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris (36, left) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run off of Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

At no point other than the start of Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics did the Washington Nationals look competitive.

The Nats got zero hits in the first, while the Athletics tallied five. Starter Gio Gonzalez got two quick outs in the inning, but then lost command. He walked Josh Donaldson, allowed an infield single to Yoenis Cespedes and then Derek Norris crushed a home run into the left-field bleachers. Ironically, Norris was involved in the trade that sent Gio to Washington. Oakland would end up scoring another run that inning.

In the second inning Norris hit another three-run homer to make it 7-0. In between innings, Gonzalez got into a verbal debate with one of his teammates and had to be restrained by pitching coach Steve McCatty. The dispute did not evolve beyond a bit of a shouting match.

In the top of the seventh, the Nats allowed another two runs on a Jed Lowrie double.

The Nationals scored their only run on a Zach Walters RBI single in the ninth when the game was already well out of reach.

As a result of the sweep at the hands of the A’s, Washington has dropped to 2.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves. They take on the Arizona Diamondbacks next.