Gonzalez aims for third straight win vs. Mets

(SportsNetwork.com) - Gio Gonzalez aims to pick up a third straight victory on Friday evening as the Washington Nationals resume a four-game series with the New York Mets.

Since going nine straight starts without a victory (0-5), Gonzalez has won consecutive outings versus Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The back-to-back triumphs have Gonzalez a game under .500 at 8-9 with a 3.78 earned run average.

The left-hander held the Dodgers to three runs over six innings on Sept. 1, then bested the Phillies 3-2 on Sunday. He was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on five hits over six-plus innings.

Gonzalez is 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 career meetings with the Mets, who counter with Dillon Gee.

Gee has also put a recent skid behind him as he was 0-5 over seven starts from July 19-Aug. 19 before picking up back-to-back wins. The right-hander then pitched well enough to win a third straight outing on Saturday in Cincinnati, but instead lost a tough-luck 2-1 decision.

Gee gave up both runs on seven hits over seven innings, striking out six but yielding the go-ahead run in the seventh frame on a solo homer by the Reds' Chris Heisey.

"I thought he got better as the game went on," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Gee. "He just made a bad pitch to Heisey."

The 28-year-old Gee is 6-7 on the year with a 3.74 ERA and 7-4 lifetime versus the Nationals with a 3.41 ERA in 14 meetings.

Gee will try to prevent the Nationals from inching closer to a National League East title after Washington won Thursday's opener 6-2. The Nats' fourth victory in five games lowered their magic number to clinch the division to nine.

Adam LaRoche and Anthony Rendon both hit two-run homers for the Nationals and the batter that followed each shot was hit by Mets starter Bartolo Colon. Colon was ejected after hitting Jayson Werth in the fourth after Rendon took him deep.

"All I know is (Colon) has exceptional control," insinuated Nationals manager Matt Williams.

Tanner Roark snapped a three-start losing streak as he was charged with just two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for Washington.

Colon was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and two walks as the Mets had a four-game winning streak stopped. Anthony Recker hit a solo homer and Dilson Herrera drove in the other run

"I was just looking for a pitch out over the plate to put a good swing on," Recker said.

New York third baseman Daniel Murphy and catcher Travis d'Arnaud both left the game with wrist injuries.

Washington has won six straight and 16 of its past 18 versus the Mets overall and 12 straight at New York's Citi Field.