Gio Gonzalez makes his first start since returning from the disabled list with mixed results, striking out six over five innings and 93 pitches of work while surrendering four earned runs. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
Jayson Werth gazed at the ball and his feet pitter-pattered between first and second base. All night, the Washington Nationals had cost themselves runs with misplays and sloppy decisions. Now, as Adam LaRoche’s bloop fluttered to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, Werth provided a counterbalance. He bolted ahead, wheeled around second and scooted to third base.
Werth’s quick decision keyed a pivotal rally and redeemed the Nationals’ misdeeds in a 6-5 victory that completed a two-game sweep of the Houston Astros at Nationals Park. Gio Gonzalez returned from the disabled list and allowed four runs, all scoring in one implosive frame, over five innings. Nate McLouth’s sacrifice fly in the seventh sealed the Nationals’ comeback, but it started with Werth, who twice showed why he is regarded as one of the best base runners in baseball.
The Atlanta Braves’ loss Wednesday afternoon ensured the Nationals would remain in first place as they welcome their rivals to Nationals Park on Thursday for a four-game series. With their victory at night, the Nationals surged ahead by 11/ 2 games, their largest lead since April 10. Starting Thursday night, the Nationals have the chance to create meaningful separation between themselves and the reigning National League East champions.
Wednesday night, Werth’s alert, acrobatic base running was in contrast to myriad mistakes the Nationals committed, the kind of miscues that the Braves may not allow them to overcome. Gonzalez yielded three walks and hit another batter. Denard Span drove in a crucial run in the sixth inning with a liner to the right field wall, only to be thrown out at third to the end the inning with Anthony Rendon on deck. Ross Detwiler allowed the Astros’ fifth run in the seventh inning when he fired a wild pitch past Sandy Leon and was late to cover the plate.
The Nationals entered the bottom of the seventh down, 5-3. Rendon blasted the first pitch Josh Zeid threw him to the second-to-last row of red seats, slicing the lead to one. Werth drew a walk, and Astros Manager Bo Porter summoned left-hander Darin Downs to face LaRoche.
LaRoche hit a two-strike pitch off the handle of his bat, muscling it into center field. Werth read the ball perfectly and dashed to third. And so, when Ryan Zimmerman grounded a fielder’s choice to second base, Werth scored the tying run rather than only advancing to third base.
Ian Desmond continued the rally when he laced a double to left field off Kyle Farnsworth. The Astros intentionally walked Danny Espinosa, to the apparent ire of Farnsworth, and Manager Williams pinch hit McLouth for catcher Leon. McLouth lofted a first-pitch fastball deep to left, enabling Zimmerman to trot home with the go-ahead run.
In his first start since left shoulder inflammation shelved him May 17, Gonzalez flashed his best velocity and struck out six, but he also allowed three walks and put the leadoff man on base every inning. Williams wanted Gonzalez to jump ahead in counts, and Gonzalez threw first-pitch strikes to just 12 of 21 hitters.
Gonzalez’s early innings offered promise. Williams said he would know Gonzalez had returned at full capacity if he could “drive the ball to his glove side” — if he could rifle fastballs past hitters over the right edge of the plate. In the second inning, Gonzalez had two strikes on left-handed hitting catcher Jason Castro, one of Houston’s best hitters. Gonzalez froze him with a 93-mph fastball over the outside corner, exactly the pitch Williams hoped he would see, for strike three.
Gonzalez cruised into the fourth with a 2-0 lead. He had allowed one hit, faced only batter over the minimum and struck out four of 10 hitters he faced. And then he crumbled.
The primary culprit was Jose Altuve. He fouled away six pitches on his way to an 11-pitch, leadoff walk. In the suffocating heat, facing a big league lineup for the first time in a month, Gonzalez never recovered. His control escaped him, and his pitches rose in the strike zone.
The first five Astros hitters of the fourth inning reached base, and four of them scored. Gonzalez hit George Springer with a 91-mph fastball to put two runners on base. Jon Singleton rolled a single up the middle. Matt Dominguez ripped a two-run single to left field. Castro scalded a double down the line. When Jonathan Villar lofted a sacrifice fly to left, the Astros had seized a 4-2 lead.
Before Gonzalez’s unraveling, the Nationals had taken control with aggression on the bases, including Werth’s first remarkable play. They wanted to take advantage of Astros starter Scott Feldman’s deliberate motion, and they stole five bases in the first three innings. Span led off with a walk and promptly stole second base, which helped him get into position to score on LaRoche’s sacrifice fly, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
The most mesmerizing stolen base, though, came with one out in the third. Werth bolted to second base, and as he neared the base, he could see Castro’s throw would beat him. Kneeling on the bag, second baseman Jose Altuve snared the ball. Werth slid on his left leg. Altuve swiped his glove over the front of the base.
In mid-slide, Werth planted his left foot in the ground. He stopped short of Altuve’s tag and allowed his momentum to propel himself into the air, short. Altuve lunged for Werth, but Werth kicked his left leg back, a ballerina in flight, and stepped on the side of the base with his right foot. He landed with his arms outstretched, either for balance or to signal himself, correctly, safe.
On grace and athleticism alone, it would have merited attention. But Werth’s steal made an impact on the scoreboard, too, once Desmond belted a two-out, RBI single to center field. The Nationals led, 2-0.
Wednesday night, against a lesser opponent, Werth’s base running made up for the kind of plays the Braves may make them pay for over the weekend. But the Nationals could say goodbye to their mistakes and welcome the most important series of the season. So far.
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