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WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals already have an impressive starting rotation. If Gio Gonzalez returns to form, the NL East race may soon develop into a runaway.Gonzalez pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Trea Turner and Wilson Ramos homered and the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Friday night in a matchup of first-place teams.Washington jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Jeff Samardzija (9-8), and Gonzalez made it stand up in arguably his finest outing of the season.Coming off a tough 3-1 loss in San Francisco on Sunday, Gonzalez (7-9) struck out seven, walked one and had five three-up, three-down innings.Gonzalezs ERA grew to 4.81 at the end of June, but hes brought it down to 4.13 after four consecutive starts with two or fewer earned runs allowed. Hes won three of those four starts.In a rotation that features Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and 11-game winner Tanner Roark, Gonzalez knows he has to be good to compete.Im just trying to keep up with the rest of the guys, Gonzalez said.On this night, the left-hander was as effective as any of them. The only hits he allowed were a solo homer by Angel Pagan in the fourth and a single by Denard Span in the sixth.He had good command, had his changeup working, an occasional breaking ball and he threw his fastball in and out, manager Dusty Baker said.Sammy Solis gave up two hits in the eighth and Mark Melancon got three straight outs to complete the four-hitter.It was the fourth straight win for the Nationals, who came in with a seven-game lead over Miami in the NL East.The Giants remain atop the NL West, though their lead is dwindling. Since the All-Star break, San Francisco is 5-14 and has scored two runs or fewer in nine of those games.Theyre going to come out of it, manager Bruce Bochy said. It better be sooner rather than later. We better get some good swings.Samardzija has certainly contributed to the slide. The right-hander gave up five runs in seven innings and is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA in his four starts since the break.They got some good at-bats out there and definitely put the ball in play, Samardzija said.Two of the balls were knocked completely out of play: the fifth-inning homer by Turner and Ramos career-high 17th in the sixth.San Francisco pitchers have allowed 32 homers in the last 19 games.Daniel Murphy picked up his 81st RBI with a first-inning single, and Ramos followed with a sacrifice fly.Washington made it 3-0 in the third when Turner doubled and scored on a fly ball by Bryce Harper.Pagan got the Giants first hit with one out in the fourth, a drive into the left-field seats.SHORT HOPSGiants: Span has eight hits in his last 15 at-bats. ... San Francisco hasnt won two straight roads game since June 30 and July 1.Nationals: Jayson Werth has reached base in 36 straight games. ... Murphy has a hit in 17 of his last 19 games, batting .422 with 22 RBI.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RHP Cory Gearrin (right shoulder strain) was scheduled to make his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night. ... LHP Josh Osich (left forearm strain) threw in the bullpen Friday and could start his rehab assignment Monday.Nationals: INF Ryan Zimmerman missed a fourth straight game after being hit in the left wrist with a pitch Sunday in San Francisco. We hope hes better in a day or two, Baker said, adding that the team has not discussed putting Zimmerman on the DL. ... The Nationals are perplexed about RHP Joe Ross, whos been out for a month with shoulder inflammation and is still experiencing soreness. Were trying to figure out what to do, Baker said.UP NEXTGiants: Matt Cain (3-6, 5.53) starts Saturday in the second game of the series. In his last outing, he pitched five hitless innings against the Nationals in San Francisco.Nationals: Strasburg (15-1, 2.63) has allowed one run and six hits over 13 innings in his last two starts. Buy New Balance Shoes Online Ireland .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap New Balance Shoes Ireland . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. http://www.cheapnewbalanceireland.com/ . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. New Balance Outlet Ireland . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. New Balance Wholesale Ireland . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. TORONTO -- Benoit Cheyrou and Tosaint Ricketts scored 2 minutes apart in extra time and Toronto FC advanced to the MLS Cup final, outlasting the Montreal Impact 5-2 in the rain Wednesday night for a 7-5 aggregate victory.It took extra time and 12 goals to decide the two-leg Eastern Conference final. Toronto will host the Seattle Sounders on Dec. 10 in the MLS championship game, becoming the first Canadian team to play for the title.Tonight was a special night, captain Michael Bradley said. Ten days from now we want to do one better.Toronto trailed 3-2 after Game 1 in Montreal and fell further behind after the Impact scored first before a BMO Field-record crowd of 36,000.Only once before in MLS playoff history had a club trailed by as many as three goals in a two-leg aggregate series and come back to wine. The San Jose Earthquakes were down 4-0 in 2003 before rallying to beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 5-4.One of our messages was there was no way, no chance, no how we were going to be outcompeted tonight in front of our fans in our stadium, Toronto coach Greg Vanney said. And we were going to run hard and we were going to run through everything that we had to make sure that those margins turned in our favor.With the teams tied 5-5 on aggregate, Cheyrou scored on a header in the 98th minute -- just a minute after entering the game -- when he knocked in Steven Beitashours cross. Then, Jozy Altidore outmuscled a couple of defenders to send in a cross that Ricketts, beating two more defenders to the ball, swept in.ddddddddddddor me, the most exciting playoff event that Ive ever been a part of, Vanney said. And for sure that Ive ever seen.Dominic Oduro opened the scoring in the 24th minute for Montreal, a goal that meant Toronto had to score twice. Armando Cooper and Altidore did just that before the first half was over, tying the aggregate score at 4-4, with an away goals edge to Toronto.But the Impacts Ignacio Piatti made it 2-2 -- and 5-4 on aggregate -- in the 53rd minute after substitute Johan Venegas found him behind the defense. The ball bounced off either Piatti or defender Nick Hagglund, leaving Toronto fans to watch in pain as it trickled slowly into the net.Hagglund restored order with a superb header in the 68th minute to make it 3-2 on the night and 5-5 on aggregate. It came off a short corner with Justin Morrow delivering the cross.Guys are down in the dressing room. Its grueling out there, Impact coach Mauro Biello said. Today was a tough game, a lot of emotions in playoffs, its a long season, and in the end the players gave everything, all the way to the end. Its a tough moment, for sure, for everyone, when youre so close and falling short. But well be back, and well be even stronger. ' ' '