When the pool of reporters gathered around Gio Gonzalez’s locker following Thursday’s 6-3 win, the Nationals starter seemed as if a weight was off his shoulders, and for good reason.
“It’s good to see you smile,” he said to one journalist. Gonzalez hadn’t heard the blaring rap music too frequently in the clubhouse after one of his outings. It had been some time since he was the winning pitcher in a postgame handshake line — since May 28, in fact.
So Thursday was a welcome turn for Gonzalez, who had occasionally been curt when questioned after a start during his 11-game slide without a victory as he searched for as many answers as the press did regarding his performance on the mound.