Cardinals get preview of Nationals' Gonzalez

~ Washington's new lefty was sharp before rain ended the spring training game

JUPITER, Fla. -- Gio Gonzalez's mood wasn't dampened by a rainout. He had 20 boisterous family members and friends in the crowd to boost his spirits.

The Miami native pitched two-hit ball for four innings Sunday before the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals were postponed because of rain.

"My parents, I had to tell them to turn it down a bit," a visibly excited Gonzalez joked. "I heard that whole section over there."

Gonzalez's entourage made the hour drive to see the former Okland A's player pitch closer to home than he ever had as a professional.

The lefty didn't disappoint. The toughest part of his day was recording the final out of the fourth in a steady rain.

"It was tough," said Gonzalez, who threw 36 of his 51 pitches for strikes. "It almost got to the point where I was telling [Yadier] Molina, Here's a fastball. Hit it, please. Get me out of this inning, already. I'm drenched over here."

Gonzalez's outing impressed St. Louis manager Mike Matheny.

"He's got good stuff," Matheny said. "You could see how the guys were reacting to his changeup. He's got that fastball that he would take a little bit off, put a little bit more on."

Gonzalez, an American League All-Star last season, was acquired from Oakland as part of a six-player trade in December, then signed a contract extension through 2016.

The rain also didn't keep St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook from getting his full slate of work. Westbrook lasted three innings, yielding a run in his second start of the spring. He allowed three hits while striking out two. He threw 32 of his 42 pitches for strikes.

The Cardinals and Nationals will meet again today, with St. Louis sending a split squad to Viera, Fla. The Cardinals that don't make the trip will remain in Jupiter to face Atlanta.