Gio Gonzalez has made himself the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award this year after winning again on Monday night, as the Washington Nationals defeated the Mets 5-1.
The Nationals hit three home runs for Gonzalez, who leads the National League with 19 wins on the season. He had six strikeouts and only gave up one run in six innings of work. The first hit he gave up came in the fourth inning, a solo home run from Scott Hairston.
When asked about the possibility of winning a Cy Young, Gonzalez was playful.
"When you start looking at one thing, it'll drive you crazy," Gonzalez told the Associated Press. "If it comes, it comes."
Although Gonzalez tied his season high with five walks, he brought his ERA down to 2.93.
"Couldn't find the strike zone," he said. "Drank a little too much coffee. I don't know what it was."
The Nationals took the lead in the third inning after catcher Kurt Suzuki hit a home run. Later that inning Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer, which was followed by another two-run shot by Ian Desmond in the fourth.
Zimmerman's homer extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
The Mets dropped their fourth game in a row and have played awful at home during the second half of the season. The team tied a franchise record, scoring three or fewer runs for the 11th straight game at home. Amazingly, the Mets have gone 106 innings playing at Citi Field without scoring more than one run.
"I've done this long enough to know that you don't ever give up," manager Terry Collins said. "You don't ever stop, you don't ever stop grinding it out. You don't ever stop walking through the locker room every day making sure the guys are upbeat, that they're positive, trying to move forward. That doesn't change one bit."
Rookie Collin McHugh had a rough start for the Mets, allowing three home runs and five hits in only four innings.
The win put Washington ahead in the AL East by 6 ½ games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, who they will play this weekend.
The Nationals are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since moving from Montreal in 2005. A Washington team hasn't made a playoff appearance since 1933.
Gonzalez has had a superb season and had staked his claim as one of the best pitchers in the National League.
He was traded to Washington in the offseason from Oakland for a young group of prospects, including Brad Peacock, Tommy Millone, Derek Norris and AJ Cole. Gonzalez later signed a five-year extension worth $42 million through 2016 with the team.
This year he made the All-Star team, pitched his first career shutout against the Cardinals and also hit his first career home run in a game against the Houston Astros. Gonzalez also set a Nationals record when he pitched 25 consecutive scoreless innings earlier this season.
The Mets will start R.A. Dickey, who is Gonzalez's main competition for the Cy Young, on Tuesday night. Dickey is 18-4 with only a 2.64 ERA. The Nationals will counter with Jordan Zimmerman, who is 10-8 with a 2.99 ERA.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
