No one would blame Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who is usually stone-faced and collected, if he showed a little bit of disappointment Wednesday night in the locker room. He made Washington history by putting together his 11th consecutive quality start, most in franchise history, but that was lost in Washington's 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Nationals were swept out of Anaheim riding a three game win streak.
What was more devastating was the one run of the game was unearned and was thanks to a Washington veteran. The run came when Bobby Abreu scored on a double play ball. However, he never would have if third baseman Ryan Zimmerman did not make an errant throw earlier in the inning. Zimmerman worked against Zimmermann and it cost the Nationals and their talented young pitcher. Zimmermann went eight innings giving up only one unearned run walking one and striking out four.
Manager Davey Johnson's unique line-up of bench players could only muster three hits. Zimmerman, Brian Bixler and Ivan Rodriguez each collected hits while the team was tagged with eight strikeouts and left 10 men on base. It seems the Nationals old enemy (themselves and) lack of offense has come back to plague them.
Jerry Hairston Jr. had to leave the game in the fifth-inning after getting hit in the hand by a pitch. He has been listed day-to-day.
The Nationals fall under .500 to 40-41 while Johnson's first win as manager remains elusive. The Nationals will try to regroup and realign themselves and attitudes on an off day Thursday before returning to NL-style of play and starting a series Friday with the Pittsburgh Pirates.