It was a close game between the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park Tuesday night. Pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Jonathan Sanchez kept the score close for their respective teams, allowed few runs and by the end of the fourth-inning the night's scoring was over. In the end, it was the Nationals who remained on top for the 2-1 win.
The victory really comes at the hands of one man: Zimmermann. The 25-year old put packaged another fine performance together going seven strong innings, giving up one run on five hits. He only walked one batter while striking out three. On top of a marvelous pitching performance, Zimmermann also got things done with the bat. He did not wait for the offense to produce the winning run, but instead laid down a sac bunt in the fourth-inning to plate Rick Ankiel while also beating the throw to first for the go-ahead run. Shortstop Ian Desmond laid claim to the only other Nationals run, an RBI single in the third-inning.
The only run Zimmermann allowed the Giants Tuesday night was an RBI double from Nate Schierholtz in the bottom of the second after Aubrey Huff tripled. It was all the Giants could do against one of the Nationals most promising pitching stars.
The Nationals move to 27-34 and still are firmly entrenched in the cellar of the NL East.