Zimmermann is latest to hold his own for Nats
The Nationals earned an up-close look at an elite big league rotation during their first series of the season last weekend. But if they were searching for a positive after dropping two of three games to the Atlanta Braves, it is that their starting pitchers held their own.
Against a revitalized Braves lineup — one that could be among the National League’s best — Washington’s three starters kept their team close. Livan Hernandez allowed just two runs in an Opening Day loss. John Lannan had his outing cut short by rain and hail delays Saturday but gave up just one run in five innings. And Jordan Zimmermann lasted six innings with two earned runs allowed Sunday before the bullpen — and Washington’s defense — fell apart.
“Jordan threw well. A lot of those balls [Atlanta] hit to right center were in the perfect spot. They weren’t crushed,” Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said after Sunday’s disappointing 11-2 loss. “They were up there for a while. They were right in between [outfielders] Rick [Ankiel] and Jayson [Werth]. Some days it’s like that. [But] Jordan looked really good.”
| Nats notes |
| » Nats (1-2) begin a six-game road trip Tuesday against two of their National League East rivals, the Florida Marlins (2-1) and New York Mets (2-1). |
| » Washington plays its first 12 games of the season against the NL East. |
| » Through three games the only Nats player with more than one RBI is outfielder Rick Ankiel. He is off to a 1-for-9 start at the plate, but that lone hit was a two-run home run. |
That’s a promising start heading into this week’s three-game series against the Florida Marlins. The Nats will start veteran Jason Marquis, who had a nice spring after battling elbow troubles during a disastrous 2010 season, and Hernandez and Lannan. Fifth starter Tom Gorzelanny won’t be needed until Saturday. In all, Washington’s rotation allowed five earned runs in 171Ú3 innings against Atlanta. The trio gave up 13 hits, walked four and struck out eight batters.
Zimmermann’s effort was one of the lone positives after a poor defensive game against the Braves in which the bullpen also struggled. The Nats made just one error, but miscues all over the field proved costly. The task now is to build on the strong starting pitching and leave the negatives behind on the trip to Miami.
“We know it’s going to be tough in this division,” Ryan Zimmerman said. “Whenever you come out like we did [Sunday] and not be on top of your game, you’re going to lose. It’s a learning experience for us, and we can’t let it happen again.”
