35 batting average, scored five runs in the third after the An

WASHINGTON - On a brisk, damp night that hinted of October, Washington Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez pitched like a man determined to make an impact in the playoffs.Gonzalez (10-10) struck out a career-high 12 batters and allowed just one hit through seven innings as the Nationals defeated the New York Mets 3-0 in the late game of a day-night doubleheader to salvage a split.Its not yet certain whether he or Tanner Roark will be the fourth starter in the rotation when the NL East champion Nationals begin post-season play on Oct. 3.I missed a month and I just want to come back and try to do my best and contribute, said Gonzalez, who missed a stretch of May and June with shoulder inflammation. To do my best to stay a part of this magic that weve got going.In Thursdays first game, Ryan Zimmermans healing hamstring appeared to pass a seven-inning test for playoff-bound Washington in a 7-4 loss.The split pulls the Nationals within one win a€” or one Los Angeles Dodgers loss a€” of clinching the National Leagues top record and home-field advantage until the World Series.In the second game, Zack Wheeler (11-11) allowed three runs over five innings as the Mets (77-82) were ensured of their sixth consecutive sub-.500 season.The Nationals did their damage off Wheeler in the fourth on a fielders choice, a passed ball, and one of three singles by Anthony Rendon.They hit one ball hard the whole night, said Wheeler, who allowed four hits and three walks. It was just one of those games where they were finding holes and they were dropping in. Its not the way I wanted to go out this year.Drew Storen worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save, closing out the first of two day-night doubleheaders in as many days for Washington.Gonzalez kept his strong September going. He struck out the side in the second and third innings and faced the minimum number of batters through five innings before issuing solo walks in the sixth and seventh.I mean, Ive had some fun outings this year, Gonzalez said, but (I was) definitely more aggressive this time in the strike zone. And, thats a lot of credit to the catcher Willy (Ramos). . We just wanted to attack these guys.He fanned Lucas Duda for a third time in the seventh for his career-best 12th strikeout, passing the mark hed tied five times, including three times last season. After Wilmer Flores lined out to end the inning, Gonzalez walked to the dugout to chants of Gi-o! Gi-o! from the Nationals Park crowd.Manager Matt Williams hasnt officially announced the clubs playoff rotation. Despite Roarks breakout year, its expected Gonzalez, Washingtons only southpaw starter, will join Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister.Gonzalez has battled inconsistency, but posted a 2.48 ERA in September (compared to a 3.57 ERA for the season), as well as seven consecutive quality starts.In the early game, Washingtons Zimmerman continued his quest to get healthy by hitting, running the bases and playing left field for seven innings to Williams satisfaction.It was less thinking about it, I think, which is exactly what we want, said Williams, who added that the two-time Silver Slugger winner couldve finished the game if needed. We want him to be able to react out there. I thought it was fine today.Matt den Dekker singled home the go-ahead run off Tyler Clippard (7-4) in the eighth inning. Flores drove in den Dekker from second with an infield single to add an insurance run, and Ruben Tejada singled home another run in the ninth.Curtis Granderson had three singles and three RBIs as New York belted 15 hits. Flores also had three singles.Im just getting hits, said Granderson, who has struggled since joining the Mets this year, but now has eight multi-hit games in September. I really wish it was more complicated than that, but sometimes you find a little bit of grass or a couple of holes here or there. Thats really it.Zimmerman went 1 for 4 and played left field in his second start since straining the hamstring in late July. He also lined out in a pinch-hit appearance in the nightcap.Zimmerman scored in the fourth after singling, going first-to-third at less than full pace on Adam LaRoches single, and running home at a similar speed on Ian Desmonds sacrifice fly to centre.I cant really go 100 per cent yet, said Zimmerman, who played seven innings Saturday but has had soreness as weather reduce him to one pinch-hit appearance since. Im sort of learning what I have, what I dont have, and the only way to do that is to go out and play.Carlos Torres (8-5) pitched the seventh, and Jenrry Mejia worked the ninth for his 28th save.ROTATING FORWARDWith Zimmermann (13-5, 2.78) starting Sunday, the right-hander could start the first or second game of next weeks NLDS on four or five days rest, as long as he shows no ill effects from a line drive taken to his throwing shoulder last Saturday.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: CF Denard Span (right knee soreness) was left out of Thursdays games two days after he departed following a tumbling catch in the series opener. Williams said he expects him to play Friday.Mets: After 3B David Wright (inflamed left shoulder) said Wednesday hes in the beginning stages of a six-week rehab program in hopes of avoiding surgery, manager Terry Collins Thursday said he may be more aggressive in resting Wright next season. What Ive got to do is forget about the asking and just give him some time off, Collins said. ... C Travis dArnaud (unspecified ailment) will not play at least until he sees Mets team doctors Friday, Collins said.UP NEXTNationals: RHP Doug Fister (15-6, 2.55) will make the early start Friday against Miami RHP Jared Cosart (13-10, 3.70), and RHP Taylor Hill (0-0, 4.15) will make his first major league start against LHP Andrew Heaney (0-3, 5.33) late.Mets: LHP Jonathan Niese (9-11, 3.50) will attempt to reach the 10-win plateau for the third time in his career in a series opener against Houstons Brad Peacock (4-9, 4.82). Nike Air Max 90 Outlet . American Lindsey Jacobellis was third, while Japans Yuka Fujimori finished just off the podium. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., earned bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games and is set to return to the Games this February in Sochi, Russia. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 . Blatter, a 75-year-old Swiss executive who has been in office since 1998, was handed a final four-year term as head of footballs governing body in a vote at FIFAs congress. He won 186 votes out of 203 ballots. https://www.cheapnikeairmax90china.us/ . - Connor Brown and Dane Fox both scored in regulation and in the shootout, as the Erie Otters extended their win streak to 10 games by defeating the London Knights 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Fake Nike Air Max 90 . Anything less than gold for either nation is considered a disappointment. Yet for Switzerland, advancing to the semifinal might be a victory in itself. Wholesale Nike Air Max 90 . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action.ANAHEIM, Calif. - Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead, two-run home run, and C.J. Cron and pinch-hitter David Freese also homered against the Houston bullpen in the Angels eight-run seventh inning as Los Angeles beat the Astros 11-5 on Saturday night for their ninth straight home win. Pujols 511th homer tied him with Mel Ott for 23rd place on baseballs career list. Houston starter Scott Feldman left after six innings with a 5-2 lead and was replaced by Anthony Bass (1-1). Cron greeted Bass with a leadoff single before Freese batted for John McDonald and hit his first homer in 124 career at-bats at Angel Stadium and first in the majors as a pinch-hitter. Kole Calhoun followed with a single for his third hit of the game. Bass retired Mike Trout before Pujols drove out the next pitch for his 19th homer. He is one away from tying Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews on the career list. Tony Sipp, who surrendered Trouts walkoff homer in the ninth inning of the Astros 7-6 loss on Friday, gave up a walk to Josh Hamilton and an RBI double to Erick Aybar. After an intentional walk to Howie Kendrick, Josh Zeid came on and yielded Crons three-run homer. Trout, the 14th Angels batter in the seventh, struck out against Sipp with the bases loaded to end the teams most productive inning of the season after 55 minutes and 74 pitches. Michael Roth (1-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief for the victory after rejoining the Angels from the minors earlier Saturday. Los Angeles is a season-best 14 games over .500 and remains 3 1-2 games behind AL West-leading Oakland. Angeels lefty Hector Santiago gave up five runs, six hits and three walks in five innings of his 11th start of a season in which he has been demoted to the bullpen and to the minors.dddddddddddd. He is 0-7, and his ERA jumped from 4.08 to 4.50. Feldman allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five without walking a batter. Chris Carter hit a grand slam for Houston. The Astros, who came in with an AL-worst .235 batting average, scored five runs in the third after the Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first on Pujols RBI single. Jason Castro tied it with an RBI double before Santiago hit George Springer on the left leg and gave up a single to Matt Dominguez. That set the stage for Carter, who also homered on Friday. Carter slammed his 15th homer of the season and second career grand slam. NOTES: Pujols hit his 542nd career double in the ninth, overtaking Rogers Hornsby for 30th place. ... The Angels became the fourth team to reach the 50-win mark, joining the As, Brewers and Dodgers. ... Freeses homer was the first by an Angels pinch-hitter since Chris Iannettas solo shot on Sept. 4, 2013. ... Roth was selected to the major league roster to replace LHP Rich Hill, who was designated for assignment. ... Former Angels 3B Troy Glaus, who hit a franchise record 47 home runs in 2000 and was the 2002 World Series MVP, threw a ceremonial first pitch. ... The Angels optioned RHP Cory Rasmus to Triple-A Salt Lake, after obtaining LHP Joe Thatcher and OF Tony Campana from Arizona in a trade that sent OF Zach Borenstein and RHP Joey Krehbiel to the Diamondbacks. ' ' '