Washington Nationals: Gio Gonzalez spinning masterful season

A near no-hitter for Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez highlights a magical comeback season. The reason is more than numbers alone.

You knew Monday was bound to be an emotional night for Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

His good friend Jose Fernandez would have turned 25 and the Hialeah-raised Gonzalez was in his hometown to face the Miami Marlins. As Fernandez’s friends and family accepted the well wishes from the public, Gonzalez spun a gem. He tossed a no-hitter into the ninth broken up by fellow Fernandez pal Dee Gordon.

Unlike Max Scherzer’s effort the last Washington visit to South Beach, this was a legitimate hit into center bringing tears and cheers from the 18,962 at Marlins Park. For Gonzalez, his emotions flowed. They always are just under the surface, but were on full display during his slow walk to the dugout.

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After years of declining results, the 2017 season has changed the tide for Gonzalez. Once considered primed for the fifth-spot in the Nats rotation, he nearly became an All-Star.

From the start of Spring Training, his confidence flowed. The shoulders stiffened and Gonzalez thought his way out of jams. Sure, there were times he shakes the head and stares at the sky for answers. The big change came with him trusting his pitches. Mondays no-no flirt was the culmination of the hard work put in to shake the doubters and prove himself.

For the first time since 2014, Gonzalez allows less than a hit an inning. His 6.6 H/9 is third in the National League. If it holds, it is a career-high. His 2.66 ERA is third in the league and the 163 is fourth. These are not smoke-and-mirror numbers.

By the time you read this, Gonzalez is likely a father. Expecting a child at any moment, he would have left his glorious start Monday if needed. Priorities are different now.

We can break down what his pitches are doing and how he found the success that eluded him in past years, but the true answer lies beneath his ears. Although Gonzalez can rack up strikeouts as needed, he passed the stage of his career where he was a thrower.

The focus is now as a thoughtful pitcher.

The walks are up and strikeouts are down, but Gonzalez is controlling the game. Instead of reacting, he is expecting. All year, those signs of body language remain strong. Shoulders face forward. Eyes focused on the task at hand. Under it all remains a passion and fire. Now, it works for him and not against.

The numbers reflect the change. At 9-5, Washington has let him down with a 12-10 overall record in his starts.

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The changes in his approach top whatever the baseball card says. This season is magic.