NEW YORK — Another road trip began badly and another start on the road by pitcher Gio Gonzalez ended with a loss on Friday night in the Big Apple.
The Nationals fading playoff hopes took another hit from a losing club, as journeyman pitcher Jason Vargas tossed six shutout innings and the lowly New York Mets beat Washington 3-0. The Nationals lost two of three last weekend to the last-place Marlins.
The third-place Nationals, now 64-65, entered Friday 8½ games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves and 5 ½ games behind the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.