Winning streak ends at six games
Their winning streak ends at six games as Gonzalez baffles them for six innings.
Angels can’t decipher left-hander Gonzalez, who is dominant.
WASHINGTON — Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals didn’t have much time to worry about an infield single ending another no-hit bid.
Not with Angels sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols due up.
Gonzalez shook off a single up the middle by Trout, walked Pujols and was saved by Daniel Murphy’s leaping catch at second base. Six innings of two-hit baseball from Gonzalez was more than enough for the Nationals to end the Angels’ winning streak at six games with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night.
For the second time in three starts, Gonzalez (11-5) flirted with a no-hitter. He had one through eight innings July 31 in Miami, and against the Angels he lowered his home earned-run average to a major leaguebest 1.79. He struck out four batters and walked three.
“He has been giving us the opportunity to win games because he gets outs when he needs them,” said outfielder Howie Kendrick, who hit two solo home runs two days after hitting a walkoff grand slam against the San Francisco Giants.
“Ground balls, double plays and he has been commanding the ball really well. Making pitches that he needed, striking guys out, I mean, that’s what you need from your starters.”
Gonzalez has developed consistency that was lacking earlier in his career and could give the Nationals a reliable third starter in the playoffs behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Manager Dusty Baker doesn’t want the lefthander thinking that far ahead.
Gonzalez came close to unraveling in the sixth inning.
“I think that’s just letting Murphy talk to you and then letting Murphy make the play,” Gonzalez said. “If it wasn’t for his play, it’s a different ballgame. We wouldn’t be talking with so much smiling. We’d be talking with more ‘Got to make a better pitch.’ ”
Gonzalez and relievers Matt Albers, Brandon Kintzler and Sean Doolittle made enough good pitches to hand the Angels their first loss since Aug. 7.
Left-hander Tyler Skaggs (1-3) gave up seven hits, including Kendrick’s home runs, in five innings and struck out six batters.
Cliff Pennington hit a home run in the eighth inning, the first run Kintzler has given up since being traded to Washington from Minnesota.
“It’s one game,” Skaggs said.
“Definitely you want to go out there and keep the ball rolling.”