Nationals: Gio Gonzalez Gets Rocked In Loss To Mets

The Washinton Nationals received a sub-par outing from starter Gio Gonzalez and lost the opening game of the series to the New York Mets, 7-1.

The Nationals scored their only run of the game in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead with two outs, as Ryan Zimmerman laced an RBI single to right field which scored Jayson Werth.

The Mets responded in a big way during the third inning. David Wright crushed a three-run home run to left field, and this put the Mets up 3-1. It was the fifth homer of the season for Wright. They tacked on two more runs to increase the lead 5-1, courtesy of a single by Asdrubal Cabrera and a sacrifice fly from Eric Campbell.

The Mets added another two runs in the fifth inning to push their lead up to 7-1, as Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker hit back-to-back home runs off Gonzalez. It was the 15^th and 11^th home run of the year for each player, respectively.

This was the seventh time in 2016 that Mets have hit back-to-back home runs, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Now Neil Walker goes yard. It's the seventh time in 44 games this season the #Mets have hit back-to-back home runs.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 24, 2016

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Gonzalez was lifted after five innings of work. The Nationals’ left-hander gave up seven runs on ten hits, struck out seven batters, and walked none on 90 pitches (56 strikes) in the loss. The negative aspect about the outing was the three home runs he yielded, considering he had surrendered only three home runs in his first eight starts combined.

This was also the first time in a couple of years that Gonzalez had given up seven earned runs in one start, according to Alex Putterman of MLB.com.

Before tonight, the last time Gio Gonzalez had allowed seven earned runs in one outing was May 11, 2014 against Oakland.
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) May 24, 2016

As for Bartolo Colon. he pitched seven strong innings for the Mets. The right-hander went seven innings, gave up one run on five hits, struck out two, and walked two on 90 pitches (64 strikes) in the win.

This was a horrible start by Gonzalez, as he allowed too many baserunners and it came back to haunt him. It didn’t help matters that the southpaw gave up a few home runs. After Gonzalez, the Nationals’ bullpen trio of Blake Treinen, Yusmeiro Petit, and Sammy Solis gave up only one hit over the final four innings and combined to strike out four batters.

Next: District Daily: Productive Revere Crucial For Nats

Next Game: In the second game of this series, Washington Nationals (27-18) starter Stephen Strasburg (7-0, 2.80 ERA) will try to remain undefeated, as he faces Matt Harvey (3-6, 5.77 ERA) on the mound for the Mets (26-18). You can watch it at 7:05 p.m. ET on MASN.

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