SB Nation DC - Nationals Beat Mets 6-2 As Jordan Zimmermann Earns His First Win Of 2011https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-04-08T20:08:27-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18630252011-04-08T20:08:27-04:002011-04-08T20:08:27-04:00Nationals Vs. Mets Final Score: Washington Wins 6-2
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> scored three runs in the eighth inning to pull away from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> and to earn their third win of the 2011 MLB season.</p>
<p>The Nats did their best to abuse New York relievers <span>Tim Byrdak</span> and <span>Bobby Parnell</span> in the eighth inning. <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> singled to drive in two runs as <span>Rick Ankiel</span> had reached base on a single and Layce Nix was pinch running for Michael Morse who had walked. <span>Danny Espinosa</span> also scored on an RBI ground out from <span>Ian Desmond</span> to give the Nationals a 6-2 lead. They would hold on in the ninth inning to make that the final score.</p>
<p>The win improved the Nationals' record to 3-4, bringing them into a three-way tie with the Mets and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> for the third place in the National League East.</p>
<p>The series will continue Saturday at 7:10 PM as <span>Tom Gorzelanny</span> is set to make his first start of the season for Washington</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/8/2099598/nationals-vs-mets-final-scoreMartin Shatzer2011-04-08T18:07:11-04:002011-04-08T18:07:11-04:00Nationals Vs. Mets Score: Jordan Zimmermann Keys 3-2 Lead For Washington
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> currently lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>, 3-2, after five innings of play. <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> has helped his own cause nicely, punching a two-run single to right field to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. He has also pitched well, though, giving up just two runs in the game.</p>
<p>Zimmermann's single happened in the second inning, and it brought home <span>Danny Espinosa</span> and <span>Rick Ankiel</span>. The Mets responded with a run in the fourth inning when <span>Ike Davis</span> hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 2-1. In the fifth inning, the Nationals had a chance to blow the game open, loading the bases with one out. <span>R.A. Dickey</span> then walked Michael Morse to bring home a run, but the rally ended when <span>Jose Reyes</span> made a splendid play fielding a hard-hit grounder by Ankiel, recovering to turn a 6-3 double play and get out of the inning.</p>
<p>The Mets responded in the bottom of the fifth inning when pinch hitter <span>Lucas Duda</span> doubled to drive home <span>Josh Thole</span>, and they have now knocked Zimmermann out after one out in the sixth inning. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/8/2099504/nationals-vs-mets-score-jordan-zimmermannMike Prada2011-04-08T14:00:12-04:002011-04-08T14:00:12-04:00Nationals Vs. Mets: Jordan Zimmermann Leads The Nats Into New York To Face The Mets
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<p>Fresh off their extra innings win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Marlins</a> in Florida, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> head to New York for a three game set against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. The first game will be played at 4 p.m. on Friday and can be seen on MASN.</p>
<p>The Nationals will send <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> to the mound for his second start of the year. In his first start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> Zimmermann went six innings and allowed two earned runs. The Nats were only down 2-1 when Zimmermann left the game, but the bullpen imploded and the Nats lost the game 11-2.</p>
<p>The Mets counter with knuckleballer <span>R.A. Dickey</span>, who was dazzling in his first start of the year against the Marlins. He went six strong innings, allowing five hits and 0 runs. The Nats have had some trouble swinging the bat this year, so maybe a change of pace like seeing the knuckleball will be good for them. Or maybe it will totally perplex them and make them look silly. Could go either way really.</p>
<p>The Nats have a little bit of momentum going into this game after their two big offseason acquisitions came through in their win over the Marlins. Both <span>Jayson Werth</span> and <span>Adam LaRoche</span> hit their first home runs in Nationals jerseys yesterday, with LaRoche's two run bomb in the top of the eleventh representing the deciding runs.</p>
<p>It's going to be a pretty chilly day in Queens, which should benefit the hitters a little bit more than the pitchers. We'll see if that has any effect on the outcome of the game.</p>
<p><i><b>We'll be covering this game in this StoryStream. For more on the Nationals, check out <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a>. </b></i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/4/8/2333037/nationals-vs-mets-jordan-zimmermann-leads-the-nats-into-new-york-toJordan Ruby