Inconsistency and lack of command haunted the Washington Nationals’ left-handed starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Saturday while they faced the New York Mets in D.C. Gonzalez gave up seven hits, five runs, two walks, and one homerun threw 84 pitches (48 strikes) while striking out four in the Nats’ 5-2 loss to New York.

The Mets pounced early with a first inning attack, which is something Washington has seen all too much of this season from their opponents. After striking out the leadoff batter to start the game, the heart of the Mets order went to work and served up three runs on four hits while leaving three men on base. It was a productive inning for New York’s offense and a rough one for Gonzalez.

This morning, the Nationals placed Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list pursuant to shoulder inflammation. Over his last two starts, Gonzalez had started to have issues with his arm slot, he told reporters after the game last night. After the game, Gonzalez underwent an enhanced MRI with dye injection, which lead to his placement on the disabled list while results are read by the Nationals’ medical team.

Despite settling in during the second inning, Gonzalez gave up a two-run homerun to outfielder Juan Lagares in the third inning which prompted Manager Matt Williams’ decision to pull Gonzalez in favor of reliever and right-handed pitcher Craig Stammen.

Stammen entered the game in the fourth inning to play the role of the stopper. He threw four innings while giving up just one hit, walking a batter, and striking out two. He even went as far as tallying his first hit since the 2011 season — a double in the fifth inning — but that couldn’t save the Nats in this particular game.

Washington did get a pair of runs in the fourth inning preventing a shutout versus a team they’re capable of beating, but a two-run homerun from shortstop Ian Desmond wasn’t enough.

Mets right-handed starting pitcher Bartolo Colon kept the Nats offense mostly silent through eight innings pitched. He allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five and walking one.

Tom Bridge contributed to this story

Rachel Levitin

Rachel moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study Journalism and Music at American University. When she’s not keeping up with the latest Major League Baseball news, she works on making music as an accomplished singer-songwriter and was even a featured performer/speaker at TEDxDupont Circle in 2012. Rachel has also contributed to The Washington Examiner and MASN Sports’ Nationals Buzz as a guest blogger. See why she loves DC. E-Mail: rachel@welovedc.com.