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WASHINGTON -- With the uncertainty surrounding Stephen Strasburg, theres increased pressure on the Washington Nationals other starters, including veteran Gio Gonzalez.On Sunday, he met the challenge.Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings, Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run and the NL East-leading Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2.Gonzalez (11-9) gave up one run on four hits, striking out five with one walk.We talked the other day and I told him that hes very important in this equation, especially with Stras out, and he responded, manager Dusty Baker said.Gonzalez rebounded from a rough outing against Atlanta in his last start when he allowed six runs in three innings and matched his longest outing of the season.Since July 10, Gonzalez is 7-1 with a 3.51 ERA in 12 starts, a welcome development for Washington.Washington turned three double plays, including in the eighth inning when the Phillies had runners on first and second with one out.As long as I can keep going deep in the game like that, Ill take some groundball double plays and some groundballs to the middle infield anytime, Gonzalez said. These guys play great back there.It was 1-all when Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from starter Adam Morgan (2-10) to open the seventh. Rendon then doubled to the wall in left-center on 2-0 off reliever Edubray Ramos.I mean, 2-0 is a hitters count, so youve got to be aggressive in those situations and he just happened to leave the ball over the plate, Rendon said.Rendon later scored on a passed ball by catcher A.J. Ellis.Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 41st save and 11th with Washington.Tommy Joseph hit a tying homer for the Phillies in the seventh. Freddy Galvis homered in the eighth, but the Phillies left six runners on base.We need consistent at-bats rather than 15 to 20 to 25 home runs, manager Pete Mackanin said. Those are sexy stats, but getting a man in from third base with the infield back requires a groundball to short and thats the type of thinking they need.The Nationals took the final three games of the four-game series.Gonzalez had retired nine straight when Joseph connected for his 18th home run of the season.He was dealing. He had that changeup working, Baker said. He was ahead in the count most of the time with his fastball. It was well-located and he seemed like a guy on a mission.Morgan was looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. He allowed two runs on three hits over six innings plus one batter in his third straight solid effort and credited his recent success to mixing his pitches better.Thats the name of the game, changing speeds and keeping guys from cheating, Morgan said. Im just going to keep throwing like Ive been throwing.Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first. Trea Turner led off with a single and scored on Daniel Murphys major league-leading 42nd double.REMEMBERING 9/11Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus threw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the Nationals 9/11 remembrance. The ceremony also included Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy, first responders from the region, and service dogs and their owners. The Naval Academy Mens and Womens Glee Club & Gospel Choir performed the national anthem, which was concluded by a flyover.WELCOME TO THE SHOWPhillies OF prospect Roman Quinn, a second-round pick in 2011, made his major league debut and went 0 for 3 with a walk.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: 3B Maikel Franco (jammed right thumb), who pinch hit Saturday night, was out of the starting lineup for a fifth straight game.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (10-9, 3.90 ERA) starts when the Phillies host the Pirates Monday in the first of four games. Hellickson is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts. Hes 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts versus the Pirates.Nationals: Mat Latos (1-0, 7.71 ERA) makes his first start since being recalled by the Nationals. In his career, hes 2-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 games against the Mets.Cheap NCAA Jerseys China . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Stitched College Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.us.org/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Cheap College Jerseys From China . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). College Jerseys China . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Baltimore Ravens say former tight end Konrad Reuland has died at the age of 29 following a brain aneurysm.Coach John Harbaugh opened his postgame news conference after Monday nights loss to the New England Patriots by announcing Reulands death.Reuland was attempting to recover from a brain aneurysm he suffered last month. A Ravens spokesman says Reulands mother informed the team that he died Monday.We love Konrad Reuland, Harbaugh said. Every single guy in that locker room loves him that knows him.Harbaugh offered his condolences to Reulands family and quoted from the Biblical book of Psalms, saying: God is our refuge and our strength.Besides the Ravens, Reuland spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. He played in 30 games over three seasons, catching 12 passes for 90 yards.Each of the NFL teams for which he played, and Stanford University, where Reuland finished his college career after two years at Notre Dame, issued statements of sympathy on Twitter. Several former teammates also took to social media to express their shock and sadness at the news.Cornerback Antonio Cromartie played with Reuland with the Jets, and they were in camp together this past summer in Indianapolis. Cromartie was at the funeral Monday of another former Jets teammate, Joe McKnight, who was shot and killed Dec. 1 during a road-rage incident in suburban New Orleans.Man, we were just in Indy together talking about everything from our football careers our family, Cromartie wrote on Instagram. And the great meeting we had in the hot tub at the Jets facility. You will be miss(ed) bro. You always walked around with a smile on your face. A hard worker and would do everything he could for the team. I love you man. Rest In Paradise.In an email to The Associated Press, Reulands agent Eric Metz wrote: God Bleess Konrad and his family.dddddddddddd He was a wonderful person.Reuland signed with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford in 2011. He was claimed off waivers by the Jets in 2012 and had 12 catches for 90 yards in two seasons while being used as a blocking tight end and H-back with childhood friend Mark Sanchez at quarterback.Reulands 2013 season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury after playing in 10 games.Its just terrible news, Jets kicker Nick Folk said after practice Tuesday. We had a group text going with (former Jets teammates) Nick Bellore, Garrett McIntyre, Greg McElroy and a couple of other guys. Greg had been pretty close to him, and we all found out through Greg. We were all just hit pretty hard by it.McElroy, currently an analyst for ABC/ESPN, played with Reuland in New York in 2012.The world lost a special person, McElroy wrote on Twitter.Reuland signed with Indianapolis practice squad in 2014, but was released and then signed by Baltimore to the Ravens practice squad a few weeks later. After being cut, re-signed and cut a few times, Reuland was re-signed by Baltimore and promoted to the active roster last December.Reuland became a free agent last offseason when the Ravens rescinded their exclusive rights tender offer in May. He signed with Indianapolis in July for a second stint with the Colts, who released him among their final training camp cuts in August.Heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend and former teammate Konrad Reuland, tweeted Denver running back Justin Forsett, who played with Reuland in Baltimore. You will be missed bro just an amazing person!---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '