District On Deck
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Washington Nationals: Gio Gonzalez continues to slump on the mound

By Blake Finney

MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 23: Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on July 23, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 23: Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on July 23, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Nationals came out flat against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game one loss. Gio Gonzalez continued to slump with another poor outing.

After a solid series against the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals needed to carry the momentum over. They didn’t. The Milwaukee Brewers pounced on a poor Gio Gonzalez to take the opener 6-1.

Gonzalez had to labor through this one, going 5.2 innings, giving up five runs on six hits and five walks. The five walks tied a season-high and in his last five starts, he’s walked the same amount as he’s struck out with 19 apiece.

His ERA on the season has ballooned all the way up to 3.94 and could be playing his way out of a nice contract in the off-season.

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As a pending free agent at the end of the season, Gonzalez needs to step up his game to get a nice payday. He’s certainly got it in him as in his first 12 starts he had a 6-2 record with a pristine 2.27 ERA.

The Nats don’t need him to be the ace we saw early in his career, but he can’t be getting whacked almost every time out either.

Trea has a day to forget

Summing up the Nats’ miserable day against the Brewers was Trea Turner. He went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts, but his AB in the fourth will draw a lot of attention.

With two strikes, he bunted the ball in play but didn’t even make a motion to first base. An inexcusable complete lack of energy on a team that needs all it can get, especially with his speed.

After the game manager Davey Martinez said: “There’s a good chance he won’t play tomorrow”. It was out of character from Turner, but it’s the correct call to bench him, and hopefully the game off will clear his head.

Murph does some yard work

The game got off to a great start for the Nationals, as Daniel Murphy launched a bullet over the fence for his second long ball of the season. It gave his team a brief 1-0 lead before the Brewers tied it in the bottom half.

Over the last 30 days, Murphy is now hitting .323 with seven walks and just four strikeouts. He’s been one of few bright spots on the team lately and he’s starting to look a lot like the old Murphy.

Next: Nats should not trade Bryce

The Washington Nationals now have to recover in game two of the series. Jeremy Hellickson, who’s been the team’s second-best starter lately, will take the mound against Junior Guerra.

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