District Daily: Gio Gonzalez Impresses in Sim Game and Washington Nationals Win at Challenges

May 28, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz speaks with starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) prior to the game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Another week, another opportunity to start off your Monday with the freshest batch of Washington Nationals news. Here’s the best of the best for June 2:

Gio impresses in brief simulated game

(Daniel Popper, MLB.com)

WASHINGTON — Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez (shoulder inflammation) threw a three-inning simulated game Sunday morning and reported to manager Matt Williams that he “felt great” afterward.

Williams said they would look to set Gonzalez up for a rehab start in the coming days.

Pitching coach Steve McCatty looked on from behind an L-screen in back of the mound as Gonzalez faced infielders Kevin Frandsen and Greg Dobbs and first baseman Tyler Moore. Williams, team ambassador Livan Hernandez and bullpen coach Matt LeCroy also observed Gonzalez from behind the plate. Read full article here.

Two challenges on same play both go Nats’ way

(T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com)

WASHINGTON — The Rangers were on the wrong end both times on Sunday when two replays were needed on one play. Both Rangers manager Ron Washington and Matt Williams of the Nationals used their challenge on an attempted double steal in the first inning.

Texas had Elvis Andrus at third and Alex Rios at first when it tried the double steal with two outs and Donnie Murphy at the plate. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos threw down to second, Rios was ruled safe by umpire Scott Barry and Andrus scored without a return throw.

Barry then called Rios out for coming off the bag at second. When he did, home-plate umpire Clint Fagan ruled that Andrus scored before the out was made. The Nats challenged that call and Texas challenged the out at second. Read full article here.

Roark’s sharp outing offset by quiet offense

(Daniel Popper, MLB.com)

WASHINGTON — Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche stepped into the batter’s box, down 0-2 in the count against Rangers starter Yu Darvish with the game locked in a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Darvish delivered a 59-mph curveball that froze LaRoche, who could do nothing but watch the brutally slow breaking ball tumble into the strike zone.

“I thought it was going off the backstop when he released it,” LaRoche said.

It was one of 12 strikeouts on Sunday afternoon for Darvish, who dazzled in eight scoreless innings to lead the Rangers to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals in the series finale at Nationals Park. The performance put a swift conclusion to a two-game, 19-run offensive outburst from the Nats, who fell a game below .500 at 27-28. Read full article here.

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