Associated Press
Associated Press
BOSTON — The Washington Nationals have quite a one-two punch in their starting rotation.
Gio Gonzalez followed Stephen Strasburg’s strong effort a night earlier by pitching 6 1-3 effective innings to carry the Nationals to a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Gonzalez held Boston to two hits and no runs before leaving with two runners on in the seventh.
“We’re talking about two guys that are such talented guys, they have great stuff,” said Nationals catcher Jesus Flores, who caught both games.
“It’s hard to adjust. They throw hard and they have good breaking ball pitches. You’ve got to be a good hitter, just to go out there and look for a good pitch to drive. Stras and Gio are pretty much wearing them down when they’re in a good spot.”
One night earlier, Strasburg held Boston to two runs over six innings, striking out 13.
Adam LaRoche hit a solo homer and Washington spoiled Daisuke Matsuzaka’s return from reconstructive elbow surgery with its second straight win over the Red Sox.
The Nationals go for the sweep Sunday when Jordan Zimmermann faces Jon Lester.
“It’s no picnic facing Zimmermann or any of our starters,” manager Davey Johnson said. “That’s been our strength all year, holding the opposition down.”
Ian Desmond had a two-run single and Michael Morse added an RBI double during a three-run fourth for Washington.
Matsuzaka (0-1), making his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery last June 10, gave up four runs and five hits over five innings, striking out eight and walking one.
“I definitely think I pitched better than I had during my rehab,” Matsuzaka said through a translator. “The biggest difference today was the consistency of my velocity and the command of all my pitches.”
The Red Sox have lost five of six, dropped below .500 (29-30) and are 1-4 on a six-game homestand that concludes Sunday.
Gonzalez (8-2) allowed David Ortiz’s leadoff double in the second and Dustin Pedroia’s infield hit in the sixth before leaving with two runners on.
Gonzalez, May’s NL pitcher of the month, allowed two runs, struck out five, walked two and was helped by a pair of solid defensive plays by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and one by second baseman Danny Espinosa.
“I felt like the team did a great job, the defensive was unbelievable, the offense came alive and the bullpen shut it down for me,” Gonzalez said. “My arm slot was just going down a little bit and I couldn’t find the zone after that.”
Gonzalez was 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA in May.
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine felt it was a decent first start for Matsuzaka.
“If we can build on that — eight strikeouts in five innings — that’s pretty good,”
Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a pinch-hit, bases-loaded two-run double off reliever Michael Gonzalez in the seventh, cutting it to 4-2, but Gonzalez got the next two batters with runners on first and third.
Tyler Clippard got the final three outs for his seventh save, and second in two days.
Leading 1-0 in the fourth, Washington added three runs off Matsuzaka. Morse hit his double after Bryce Harper walked and advanced on Zimmerman’s hit-and-run single through a vacant shortstop hole. Desmond followed with his single to right.
The Nationals went ahead when LaRoche homered on the first pitch of the second.
Ortiz had a leadoff double in the second, advanced on a wild pitch when Gio Gonzalez crossed up catcher Flores and hit him in the midsection with a breaking pitch. Gonzalez then got Will Middlebrooks to ground out and Darnell McDonald on a fly out.
In the sixth, Espinosa made a leaping grab of Adrian Gonzalez’s liner in short right. Zimmerman had a backhand stab of Middlebrooks’ second-inning grounder.
GIANTS 5, RANGERS 2
SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Vogelsong pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings and won his fifth straight decision, Nate Schierholtz hit an RBI triple and the Giants bounced back from their first shutout of the season.
Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval also hit an RBI single in his first game since May 2, pumping his right fist as he ran it out in the seventh. He came off the disabled list and returned to the starting lineup after undergoing May 4 surgery for a broken hamate bone in his left hand.
ANGELS 11, ROCKIES 5
DENVER — Albert Pujols homered and singled to drive in four runs, Mike Trout had three hits, including a two-run single, and Los Angeles earned its eighth straight road win.
DODGERS 8, MARINERS 3
SEATTLE — Jerry Hairston Jr. had a career-best five RBIs, Clayton Kershaw struck out a season-high 12 and the Dodgers rebounded from Friday’s no-hit loss.
YANKEES 4, METS 2
NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira hit a go-ahead homer and Phil Hughes won his third straight decision, sending the Yankees to their seventh win in nine games to move a season-high eight games over .500.
D-BACKS 8, ATHLETICS 3
PHOENIX — Miguel Montero hit his second career grand slam and Arizona extended its winning streak to four.
TIGERS 3, REDS 2
CINCINNATI — Prince Fielder homered in the fourth inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth.
BRAVES 5, BLUE JAYS 2
ATLANTA — Tommy Hanson improved to 6-0 against AL East teams, Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and Atlanta picked up its season-best sixth straight win.
PIRATES 5, ROYALS 3
PITTSBURGH — Neil Walker drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout during a wacky fourth inning and Pittsburgh earned its third consecutive victory to move four games over .500 at 31-27.
WHITE SOX 10, ASTROS 1
CHICAGO — Chris Sale pitched eight shutout innings to earn his fifth straight win and Adam Dunn had a grand slam and five RBIs.
TWINS 11, CUBS 3
MINNEAPOLIS — Trevor Plouffe had a double, a homer and four RBIs and Scott Diamond pitched six scoreless innings for Minnesota, which has won 9 of 11.
ORIOLES 6, PHILLIES 4 (12)
BALTIMORE — Adam Jones hit a two-run homer in the 12th and the Orioles won their eighth straight extra-inning game.
RAYS 13, MARLINS 4
MIAMI — Ben Zobrist homered twice and drove in four runs to lead Tampa Bay to its third consecutive win.
CARDINALS 2, INDIANS 0
ST. LOUIS — Kyle Lohse allowed three hits in 7 2/3 innings to outpitch Justin Masterson, and Carlos Beltran hit his National League-leading 17th homer for St. Louis, which has won three of four.
PADRES 5, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE — Ross Ohlendorf had a strong relief outing and San Diego strung together four consecutive singles in a sixth-inning rally to get its sixth road victory this year against 20 losses, the worst such record in the majors.