SAN FRANCISCO — Gio Gonzalez was at Starbucks on Monday morning when he was approached by an Oakland Athletics fan and reminded of his previous home, the four seasons he spent playing across the bay.
“I remember you,” the fan told him. “Just want to wish you luck.”
Gonzalez smiled as he relayed the story Monday at AT&T Park. He still has memories of the area and feels a connection to the region where he first broke into the league with the Athletics in 2008.
“I’ve pitched here quite a few times, especially wearing the green and gold,” he said. “So it was very cool.”
No better place, then, to turn in a season-saving performance.
After the Washington Nationals warded off elimination Monday with a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, manager Matt Williams will hand the ball to Gonzalez in Game 4 of the National League Division Series with the season again in the balance. The left-hander will aim to slow a mostly left-handed lineup and send the series back to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday night.
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“It’s not over yet,” Gonzalez said.
It will be the third postseason start of Gonzalez’s career and the second under do-or-die circumstances. After pitching five one-hit innings in Game 1 of the 2012 NLDS, he returned to the mound for Game 5, allowing five hits and three earned runs over five innings in what was ultimately a 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gonzalez is well aware of the emotions that cloud a postseason start. And he knows well that a calm demeanor is vital, especially in important situations.
“In my career and my time playing, I definitely want to stay as much composed and relaxed as possible,” Gonzalez said. “Picking up from other pitchers, that’s the [beautiful] thing about being a pitcher on the side, watching other people’s emotions and the way they go about it, the way they compete, and just staying low-key and professional as much as possible.”
Gonzalez missed nearly a month this season with left shoulder inflammation but has won four of his past five starts.
“Over he last six weeks, he’s given us really good pitching performances,” manager Matt Williams said. “His numbers the last month of the season, especially last four starts, were fantastic.”
Gonzalez has held left-handed hitters to a .221 batting average this season. On Monday, the Giants had five lefties in their lineup. Williams said they may alter that lineup to combat a left-handed starter, but for Gonzalez, it doesn’t really matter.”
“They are battlers,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to do our best just to keep doing the same things, try to stay toe-to-toe with them.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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