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TB@WSH: Gio pitches six innings of two-run ball

On June 25, Jeff Francis earned his first win of the year by stymying the Nationals, who had such trouble with the lefty's slow curveball that manager Davey Johnson would say afterwards, "We made him look like Sandy Koufax."

A night later, Gio Gonzalez turned in one of his worst outings as a National -- four runs in six innings -- but still came through with his 10th win.

On Saturday, Gonzalez gets to face the Rockies at sea level instead of at Coors Field, where the altitude limited the effectiveness of his breaking ball, while Francis will make his first career start at Nationals Park. Both pitchers will be dealing with game-time temperatures expected to be around 105 degrees.

In his last two starts, at Colorado and Atlanta, the left-handed Gonzalez has given up eight earned runs in 11 innings. Both starts, however, were wins.

Francis has been the lone bright spot for a starting staff that is last in the Majors in ERA. The Rockies have won five of Francis' six starts this year. With the four Colorado starters on a 75-pitch limit, Francis has only two wins to his name, but that's not something he's worried about.

"If you want to win, you've got to be a team player," Francis said. "If you're not happy about it, go somewhere else. If we're going to win, we're going to go about it that way, so be happy about it."

Nationals: Don't forget about the bullpen
Starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Gonzalez get the most publicity for the Nationals, and both are on the National League All-Star team. But you can't forget about Washington's relief pitchers, who have combined to win 14 games, tied for fourth most in the National League.

"[Strasburg and Gonzalez] getting to the All-Star Game is a big honor for our bullpen, too," reliever Craig Stammen said. "I don't think either one of them has thrown a complete game yet. We've finished up and kept their leads, which is our job. It's not anything special, but if they do their jobs and we do our job, that's how it's done."

Rockies: CarGo trying to get back on track
Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez will compete in the Home Run Derby, but his box scores as of late wouldn't suggest he's ready for it. Gonzalez, who has 17 homers this season, hasn't gone yard since June 15 against Detroit, giving him a 17-game streak without a home run -- a season-high streak and the fifth-longest stretch of his career.

Gonzalez's slugging percentage may have dropped the last few series, but his batting average has been climbing. His .339 clip ranks sixth among National League hitters.

Worth noting
• With a win, Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez would move into a tie with R.A. Dickey for most wins among National League pitchers (12) heading into the All-Star break.

• Rockies starter Juan Nicasio will undergo arthroscopic surgery on July 16 to remove a "floating body" from his left knee. Nicasio (2-3, 5.28 ERA) has not pitched since June 2.

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