Nationals’ Gonzalez one victory away from 20
Gio Gonzalez earned his bigleague-leading 19th victory and the visiting Washington Nationals backed him with three home runs to beat the listless New York Mets 5-1 Monday night.
Kurt Suzuki put the Nationals ahead with a home run right after catcher Kelly Shoppach dropped his foul pop-up for an error. Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run shot later in the third inning and Ian Desmond added a two-run drive in the fourth.
That was plenty for Gonzalez (19-7) and the team with the best record in the majors. The lefty gave up three hits over six innings — none until Scott Hairston homered in the fourth.
Gonzalez worked around five walks and looked relaxed in extending his career-high for wins. As he waited in the on-deck circle in the sixth, he chatted with fans.
In other games of note ...
Norichika Aoki had a two-run double to key a four-run seventh inning as the host Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1. Their 16th victory in 21 games has brought the Brewers back to the fringe of the NL wild-card race.
Pitcher Alex White homered as the host Colorado Rockies nipped the San Francisco Giants 6-5 to snap a five-game losing streak.
Jarrod Parker (10-8) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Brandon Moss and Cliff Pennington homered, and the visiting Oakland Athletics halted the Los Angeles Angels’ six-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory.
Ryan Ludwick’s infield single in the 14th sent the host Cincinnati Reds to a marathon 4-3 victory and gave the fading Pittsburgh Pirates their fourth loss in a row.
McCarthy makes progress
Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy has walked a few steps and is making encouraging progress in his recovery from surgery after getting hit in the head by a line drive last week.
A’s trainer Nick Paparesta said Monday that McCarthy seems likely to leave the hospital soon.
In more injury-related news ...
New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to be sidelined for 10 days to two weeks, missing most of the rest of the regular season, after he reinjured his left calf.
Lance Berkman, 36, is scheduled for season-ending surgery on his troublesome right knee, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals without a dangerous bat as they try to secure a playoff spot. The surgery, which will remove meniscus from the knee, will be the sixth of his career.