The Washington Nationals have a Gio Gonzalez problem. Gonzalez was roughed up for a third straight start in a 7-2 loss at Cincinnati Friday night.
The line for Gio: five runs on nine hits in six innings of work. He did strike out eight without issuing a walk, after walking four in his last start, a 9-4 loss at St. Louis on May 28.
Over his past three starts, Gonzalez has gone 0-3 with a 10.34 ERA, giving up 18 runs on 25 hits in 15 and two-thirds innings.
Yikes, indeed.
Trea Turner was 3-for-3 in the two-hole after being called up earlier in the day on Friday. Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after missing two games following a hit-by-pitch in the Philadelphia series, and was 1-for-4.
Jayson Werth hit his ninth homer of the season, a solo shot in the seventh.
Washington (33-22) has a two-game lead on the New York Mets (30-23) in the National League East.