The Washington Nationals ended their baseball season months ago, but there was unscheduled excitement this week at their stadium.

D.C. police said they made a an arrest late Wednesday night inside Nationals Park, in an incident that began when an officer spotted a car that was reported stolen the day before Christmas.

Police caught sight of the vehicle on the Southeast Freeway, at locations in Anacostia, and then headed north on South Capitol Street. Finally, the driver got out of the car and ran toward the ballpark, police said.

The Nationals played their last home game Sept. 25. The new season does not begin until April. In the silent chill of a late December night, the stadium’s thousands of grandstand seats were empty.

However, police said, the suspect “jumped the fence” and entered the huge structure.

Officers from the 1st District ringed the building and a dog team was summoned, police said. The suspect was found “hiding in a public restroom.”

Police said they made an arrest on a charge of unauthorized use of an automobile.

(c) 2011, The Washington Post
VALENCIA, Venezuela — Wilson Ramos was rescued and was being returned safely to his home Friday night, ending the Washington Nationals catcher’s harrowing 50 hours in captivity and providing relief for his beleaguered family.
“Thank you and thank everyone, thanks to God, thanks to God, thanks to the whole country,” Maria Campos, Ramos’s mother, said. “I just heard everyone yell.”
Ramos was freed in the mountains of Montalban in the state of Carabobo in central Venezuela, said Andres Izarra, the government’s communications minister. The area is roughly 40 miles northwest of Ramos’s family’s home in Valencia, where four men abducted him Wednesday evening, dragging him into a vehicle at gunpoint.
Detroit Tigers star slugger Miguel Cabrera, a Venezuelan native, called Ramos’s home Friday evening and spoke with Ramos’s sister, Milangela Ramos. Cabrera told Milangela to call Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami. When she did, El Aissami told her: “I have good news. Your brother has been released.”
Venezuelan authorities have taken three detainees in connection with Ramos’s abduction, El Aissami told reporters.
The phone call to Ramos’s family suddenly and happily ended more than two days of praying and waiting. They had hunkered down over the past few days, nervously yearning for any kernel of information or hope, but without any word from the gunmen who had abducted the 24-year-old catcher, who just completed his first season with the Nationals.
“They got him,” Gustavo Mercano, Ramos’s agent, said in a phone conversation from Ramos’s house. “He’s safe. It’s a special moment for his family. We’re all happy. We’re grateful.”
In the background over the phone, Ramos’s family could be heard chanting, “Wil-son! Wil-son!”
Across Venezuela, a country where kidnapping has long been a scourge, celebrations erupted. The news blared over public address systems at baseball stadiums where teams played in the Venezuelan winter league, which Ramos had returned home to play in.
Earlier in the evening, in Washington, supporters held a candlelight vigil outside the centerfield gate of Nationals Park, praying for one of the team’s best young players to return home safe.
The Nationals received confirmation of his release from George Hanna, Major League Baseball’s director of investigations, shortly after 10 p.m. EST. Venezuelan authorities had been working in concert with MLB’s Department of Investigations for two days, ramping up efforts Friday morning.
“The news from Venezuela tonight is reassuring,” Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. “Though details are limited and we have not yet talked directly with Wilson, we are thrilled with reports that he has been rescued and is being safely returned to his family. We greatly appreciate all the prayers and thoughts of all who have joined us in wishing for this conclusion to what has been a nightmarish 48 hours. We are eager to see Wilson and let him know just how many all over the world have been waiting for this news.”
Details about the case had been slow to trickle out. More than 48 hours after Ramos was taken, his captors still had not contacted Ramos’s family concerning a ransom. Police found a second vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction during the day Friday, and they prepared to release sketches of two of the gunmen.
Venezuelan officials expressed confidence they had made progress in the investigation. Late Friday, their hopes came to fruition.
This year, in his first full major league season, Ramos was one of the best rookies in baseball, supplanting future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, his childhood idol, as the Nationals’ regular catcher. He hit .267 with 15 home runs and a .438 slugging percentage, numbers that made him one of the Nationals’ most valuable and most promising players.
One of Ramos’s proudest moments came in early September. His mother and sister made their first trip to the United States, and for the first time they watched Ramos play in the major leagues. They sat in the stands at Nationals Park, and his mother made Ramos arepas, corn cakes popular in Venezuela, as she stayed in his apartment.
“It was very, very awesome,” Ramos said then. “The first day, when my mom came, she was crying. She was crying when she saw me play the other day. It’s awesome. For her to see me play here, it’s awesome. I feel happy, very happy.”
Kilgore reported from Washington.

Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley (11-3) made it 4-3 as the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.

John Lannan (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings. Henry Rodriguez worked the ninth for his first save.

The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.

With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune up for another potential deep postseason run.

“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being ready,” Manuel said.

They haven’t looked it against Washington.

Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.

Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, winning nine straight games in one stretch and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.

He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start of the season.

Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th homer of the season.

The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan. Ben Francisco’s single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own base hit.

Raul Ibanez’s RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all they could muster against Lannan.

John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that made it 7-5.

Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 13 times in the last 14 games.

That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.

Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly during Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion. Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.

Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in 10 games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

Read More: Ryan Zimmerman (3B – WAS), Tyler Clippard (P – WAS), Doug Slaten (P – WAS), Raul Ibanez (LF – PHI), Michael Morse (1B – WAS), Ross Detwiler (P – WAS), Roger Bernadina (RF – WAS), Tom Milone (P – WAS), Drew Storen (P – WAS), Michael Stutes (P – PHI), Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals

In the same way the Philadelphia Phillies make themselves at home at Nationals Park, the Washington Nationals are moving into Citizens Bank Park and are making themselves comfortable. Perhaps in time Philadelphia will be home to “Nationals Park North.” It will come sooner than later if the Nationals continue to beat the reigning NL East champs like they did Tuesday afternoon. In game one of a doubleheader the Nationals beat the Phillies 4-3 in 10-innings much to the dismay of the hometown fans in Philly.

Nationals starting pitcher Tom Milone pitched six brilliant innings giving up only four hits, no runs, no walks and striking out two. It was the longest performance of Milone’s short Major League career and the first start where he was not taken out of the game mid-inning.

In the seventh inning outfielder Roger Bernadina hit a three-run blast to put the Nationals up 3-0. However, reliever Doug Slaten entered the game and put two Phillies on base before being relieved for Tyler Clippard. Clippard then gave up a three-run home run to Raul Ibanez to tie the game.

In the 10th inning manager Davey Johnson put in pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman (who had the afternoon off) and he slapped a RBI single to score Michael Morse off Michael Stutes. Nationals closer Drew Storen then came in and slammed the door on the Phillies for his 39th save of the season.

The Nationals have a 8-6 record against the Phillies in 2011.

Game 2 of the doubleheader is at 7:05 P.M. with Ross Detwiler taking the mound.

WASHINGTON (CBS4) — Stephen Strasburg allowed one run and four hits over six innings in his third start after Tommy John surgery, but Donnie Murphy’s two-run home run in the 13th inning helped give the Florida Marlins a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Murphy entered the game at shortstop in the 10th inning as part of a double switch.

John Buck led off the 13th with a single and Murphy hit a 1-1 pitch from Colin Balester (1-4) into the Marlins’ bullpen in left-center field for his first homer this year.

Mike Stanton doubled in Omar Infante later in the inning to give the Marlins a three-run cushion.

Clay Hensley (5-6) struck out the side in the 12th inning for the win. Leo Nunez pitched the 13th for his 36th save.

Wilson Ramos hit his 13th homer in the fifth inning for the Nationals, who have lost the first two games of the three-game series.

Strasburg’s night was much more efficient than his last start Sept. 11, when he threw 57 pitches in three innings. Against the Marlins, he needed just 61 pitches for an outing twice as long.

The right-hander took eight pitches to get leadoff hitter Emilio Bonifacio to fly out to shortstop. It was the last time he’d have such an extended at-bat — he finished three entire innings with eight pitches or fewer.

Strasburg finished the 1-2-3 first by striking out Stanton on three pitches, the final one a 99 mph fastball. It was one of just three strikeouts for Strasburg, the fewest in his 15 career starts, but he didn’t need the strikeouts as he quickly made his way through the Marlins’ lineup.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said before the game Strasburg would have “a much longer leash” against the Marlins, guessing he’d let Strasburg throw around 70 pitches. Strasburg threw 56 pitches over five innings in his first start back from surgery.

“I was more worried the first two times out in the big leagues, with the pressure and publicity and everything, I didn’t want to take him to where he was tired,” Johnson said.

However, when the seventh inning started, Johnson sent out reliever Henry Rodriguez rather than let Strasburg continue. Strasburg left with the game tied at 1 and has not had a decision yet this season.

Florida starter Chris Volstad also left with a no-decision despite a strong performance. Volstad allowed one run and six hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out three. Volstad has gone nine starts without earning a win.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the third. Volstad led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Infante’s sacrifice fly to left.

Both teams left runners stranded on third in extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, Gaby Sanchez led off with a bloop single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout, but Greg Dobbs grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Ian Desmond led off the 11th for Washington and reached second on a throwing error by pitcher Steve Cishek. Desmond moved to third on Roger Bernadina’s sacrifice bunt. Chishek intentionally walked Ryan Zimmerman and got Michael Morse to ground into a double play.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Read More: Jayson Werth (RF – WAS), Ryan Zimmerman (3B – WAS), Ted Lilly (P – LOS), John Lannan (P – WAS), Hiroki Kuroda (P – LOS), Ian Desmond (SS – WAS), Stephen Strasburg (P – WAS), Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals, Sep 5, 2011 10:05 AM PDT

The Washington Nationals hit three home runs off Hiroki Kuroda in the first inning on Monday, cruising to a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park in Washington DC. Hiroki Kuroda had never allowed more than two home runs in a game before, but after five batters on Monday he was down 4-1. Ian Desmond, Mike Morse and Jayson Werth all went deep in the first inning, and Ryan Zimmerman nearly joined them with a deep flyout to the wall in left field.

Kuroda was able to pitch six innings on the day, but did allow another home run, the second of the day for Morse in the sixth inning. Kuroda is the first Dodgers pitcher since D.J. Houlton in 2005 to allow four home runs in a game. The last Dodger to allow three home runs in the first inning was Fernando Valenzuela in 1988.

From the “other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” file, Kuroda did have a season-high nine strikeouts and no walks on the day.

John Lannan pitched into the sixth inning for his ninth win of the season. Lannan and Kuroda have matched up twice this season, and both games were 7-2 wins for the Nationals.

Stephen Strasburg makes his 2011 debut for the Nationals on Tuesday, weather permitting. Ted Lilly starts for the Dodgers, who have lost two straight games for the first time in two weeks.

For more Dodgers news and information, be sure to read True Blue LA.

The Washington Nationals set an attendance record on Saturday night in its home loss against the Philadelphia Phillies.

More than 44,000 fans packed Nationals Park in the Nation’s Capital in the second game of the three-game set. Unfortunately for Nationals followers, they were far outnumbered by the Phillies fanatics who traveled down I-95 to see their favorite team.

I guess the Nationals’ organization isn’t that concerned about it since a huge crowd brings in a lot of money, even if they are cheering against the home team. But for the Washington, D.C., sports fans who are very passionate about their teams, the sight of Phillies fans invading their home stadium can’t feel too great.

It’s not like this is Florida, where sports are a second-thought to partying on South Beach or visiting Disney World. This is Washington, one of the major cities in the sports-crazed Northeast. A city that follows the Redskins year in and year out despite the team not advancing to an NFC title game since 1992.

Yes, I know the Nationals have been pretty awful in their six-year existence. But you would think a passionate sports town like Washington would be able muster more than the Nationals’ average attendance of 24,000 per game this season.

I guess until hyped prospects Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are regulars on the Nationals’ roster, the team will just have to rely on the Presidents mascot race and games against the Phillies to bring excitement to the ballpark.

Well even if they are rooting for two different teams, there is one thing Phillies and Nationals fans can agree on. Jayson Werth, who is currently batting .232 with 129 strikeouts in his first season with Washington, won’t be getting any standing ovations in the near future. 

The Diamondbacks’ team bus arrived at Nationals Park 45 minutes late after being stuck in heavy traffic caused by the afternoon’s East Coast earthquake. The bus, which arrived at 5:15 p.m., was set to be later than usual even before the disruption, as Gibson had decided not to have Arizona take batting practice.

“We have a 4:15 bus again tomorrow, no BP, and I’m going to try and call another earthquake,” Gibson said after the game. “If the earthquake doesn’t show up, we’ll do the rest the same.”

Kennedy (16-4) allowed six hits, struck out eight, and had a single and a double at the plate. It was Kennedy’s eighth win in his last nine starts.

“It’s been kind of crazy,” Kennedy said. “It felt like high school all over again. You show up late, start getting ready an hour before the game.”

Although the Nationals had few real scoring chances, they did put the leadoff runner on base five times against Kennedy.

“I wasn’t making it easy on myself,” he said.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (8-11) held the Diamondbacks scoreless on three hits through six innings, but gave up two runs, two hits and a walk in the seventh.

After getting a groundout by Lyle Overbay to lead off the inning, Zimmermann gave up a walk to Chris Young before Burroughs’ homer to right field. The home run was Burrough’s first since April 30, 2005.

“Was basically looking dead red fastball, get out in front,” Burroughs said. “I wasn’t trying to hit a home run. I obviously never do.”

After Burrough’s homer, Kennedy doubled to end Zimmermann’s day.

“Definitely frustrating,” Zimmermann said. “It’s happened a couple of times this year where it’s just one pitch at the end of the game. It’s a home run or a double or something and they get a couple of runs.”

The start was likely the second-to-last outing of the season for Zimmermann. The right-hander is in his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2009, and the Nationals have said he will be limited to about 160 innings this year. After going 6 1-3 against Arizona, Zimmermann has pitched 157 innings.

Until Burrough’s homer broke the scoreless tie, the Diamondbacks’ best scoring chance came in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Ryan Roberts hit a sharp grounder and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made a diving stop to throw out Roberts and save a run.

“He’s probably the only guy in the big leagues that catches it,” Gibson said.

Zimmermann hit Justin Upton with a pitch in the fourth, the fifth time Upton has been hit in six games against the Nationals this season. Upton reacted by angrily throwing his bat to the ground before walking to first base.

“I was a little upset about it,” Upton said. “I don’t know if you’re trying to hit me or not, but control your pitches.”

Kennedy hit Michael Morse with a pitch in the fourth, and home plate umpire Marvin Hudson warned both benches.

“You could tell, none of them were on purpose,” Kennedy said.

Upton left in the middle of the fifth inning with a left elbow contusion and was replaced by Collin Cowgill. Gibson said Upton was day to day.

NOTES: The game was delayed 21 minutes because of the earthquake that hit the East Coast Tuesday afternoon. … Nationals manager Davey Johnson said RHP Steven Strasburg will make his next rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse. … OF Jayson Werth left the game for a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. After the game Werth said he had a mild hip flexor, although Johnson termed it a groin strain. “We’ll see if Davey wants me to play tomorrow,” Werth said. … Washington introduced its top three draft picks — 3B Anthony Rendon, RHP Alex Meyer and OF Brian Goodwin — before the game. Rendon said he is completely recovered from a shoulder injury that hampered him at Rice this season. … Arizona traded 2B Kelly Johnson to Toronto for IFs Aaron Hill and John McDonald. The Diamondbacks placed RHP Jason Marquis (fractured right fibula) on the 60-day DL. … Nationals RHP Livan Hernandez (7-11) will start Wednesday against Arizona RHP Daniel Hudson (12-9).

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Monday marks the fourth minor league rehabilitation start for Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg.

The 23-year-old will throw four innings or 65 pitches — whichever comes first — for the Class-A Hagerstown (Pa.) Suns against the Texas Rangers’ affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads.

On Sunday, Strasburg threw and worked out at Nationals Park under the eyes of the team’s staff. He had thrown a bullpen session the previous day.

Strasburg struggled in his last rehab start, giving up five earned runs in fewer than two innings.

Nearly 12 months removed from elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery, he could make his return to the major leagues Sept. 2.

Nationals officials have been hoping Strasburg could take over from fellow fireballer Jordan Zimmerman, who is nearing his team-enforced innings limit of 160. A 5 2/3 innings stint in his last start pushed the right-hander’s total to 150 2/3.

It was the second improbable victory in three games for the Nationals. They beat the Phillies, who have the best record in the majors, with a six-run rally in the ninth Friday night.

“Any time you can beat what I consider probably the best team in baseball it’s a plus,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. “There’s just no give up in this ballclub. It’s always fun to beat the best.”

Desmond was feeling like anything but the best after Saturday’s game, when his two-out error led to the Phillies’ first two runs in a 5-0 win.

Less than 24 hours later, an RBI single by Michael Martinez put the Phillies ahead 4-3 in the ninth. With two outs, Desmond was down to his final strike when he instinctively avoided being hit by a slider from Antonio Bastardo, who pitched the ninth with regular closer Ryan Madson given the day off.

On the next pitch, Desmond sent a soaring drive into the stands for his fifth home run of the season. The shot quieted the pro-Phillies crowd at Nationals Park and had Desmond shooting his arm into the air.

“Last night was a hard night’s sleep for me,” Desmond said. “I told myself today I’m going to come out and try to put that behind me. When I touched first base and put my hand up I was, ‘Yes, that’s how you come back.”

Ryan Zimmerman, who hit a game-ending grand slam on Friday night, started the 10th with a leadoff double against Lidge (0-1). Michael Morse was walked intentionally and Jayson Werth, after striking out three times, singled to load the bases.

Danny Espinosa fanned for the first out. A 1-0 slider from Lidge veered inside — and Gomes didn’t budge.

“I’m definitely hanging in. It comes all the way back to my junior college days. it was hard-nosed, dirtbag baseball,” Gomes said.

“Normally, that’s a pitch for me when I release it — I know what it’s going to do,” Lidge said. “It didn’t go where I thought it was going to go.”

Gomes was happy it didn’t.

“Getting hit was last on my to-do list that at bat, but it worked out,” Gomes said.

Sean Burnett (4-5), the sixth Washington pitcher, pitched a scoreless 10th.

The win broke a streak of eight straight winning road series by the Phillies.

The Nationals got off to a 2-0 lead in the first off Roy Halladay. Desmond’s leadoff double set up Zimmerman’s sacrifice fly and Espinosa’s run-scoring single, his first RBI since July 17.

Carlos Ruiz homered off Chien-Ming Wang in the second, tying it at 2. Chase Utley’s ninth home run put the Phillies ahead 3-2 in the third.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, lightning and heavy rain caused a delay of 1 hour, 11 minutes.

When play resumed, Tom Gorzelanny replaced Wang and faced one batter.

On track for his NL-leading 16th win and fourth this year against Washington before the rain came, Halladay allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out five and hitting a batter.

After the delay, Halladay was replaced by Michael Schwimer, who made his major league debut. He allowed a home run to Espinosa on the second pitch he threw.

Schwimer pitched three innings and struck out four.

In his fifth start since missing more than two years after shoulder surgery, Wang allowed three runs and five hits. He struck out four and walked one.

NOTES: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins left in the third inning with a strained right groin. He’ll have an MRI exam Monday night. … Espinosa had three hits … Zimmerman has reached base in 27 straight games. … It was the third rain delay in the last four games for the Nationals. Friday’s game was stopped for 2 hours, 22 minutes, and the start of Thursday’s Reds-Nationals game was also delayed by 30 minutes. … LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3) will start Monday for Washington. LHP Joe Saunders (8-10) is scheduled for Arizona.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Roy Oswalt pitched eight-hit ball for eight innings, Wilson Valdez and Jimmy Rollins each drove in two runs and Hunter Pence homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Oswalt was supposed to start for the Phillies on Friday night, but after torrential rain arrived in the first inning, the game was delayed by 2 hours, 22 minutes, and he was scratched.

The Phillies, winners for the 81st time this year, scored twice in the fourth and three times in the sixth as Oswalt (6-7) struck out nine – the most since joining Philadelphia last July. He walked one and had runners on in every inning but the second and third.

Michael Stutes worked the ninth to complete the Phillies’ 15th shutout of the season.

Contrasted with the nasty Friday weather, this beautiful night drew a Nationals Park record crowd of 44,685 – most of them cheering for Philadelphia and booing Jayson Werth.

As he took the field for the first inning, Werth tipped his cap to the jeering fans, one of whom carried a sign that read: “Was it Werth it?” – a reference to his seven-year, $126 million deal that convinced him to leave the Phillies and join the Nationals.

In the fourth, John Mayberry Jr. singled with two outs. He tried to steal, but John Lannan threw to Michael Morse at first. Morse’s throw arrived at second ahead of Mayberry but Ian Desmond dropped the ball. Mayberry was safe. Carlos Ruiz walked, and Valdez tripled them both in.

Oswalt struck out five batters in the first three innings, and was helped enormously by Mayberry, whose throw to the plate nailed Ryan Zimmerman, who tried to score on Werth’s single in the fourth.

Pence led off the sixth inning with a long, high home run to left field – his 15th. Philadelphia is 15-4 since his arrival in a trade from Houston.

Mayberry and Ruiz followed with singles, and Collin Balester replaced Lannan (8-9). After Valdez hit into a fielder’s choice, Oswalt bunted to first. Instead of tagging the pitcher for the second out, Morse tried to get Ruiz at third. The throw was not in time, and the bases were loaded. Rollins singled to score Ruiz and Valdez for a three-run inning, and a 5-0 lead.

Lannan, now a woeful 1-12 against the Phillies, was charged with five runs – three earned in his five-plus innings.

NOTES: Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said RHP Cole Hamels’ bullpen session on Saturday went well. Hamels missed a start with an inflamed left shoulder. He’ll throw again in the bullpen and is scheduled to start on Aug. 26 against Florida. … Phillies RHP Ryan Madson, who tied his career high by allowing six runs against the Nationals in Friday’s ninth inning, was unavailable on Saturday. … Philadelphia OF Shane Victorino returned after serving a two-game suspension for his part in the Aug. 5 fight in San Francisco. … Phillies 3B Placido Polanco (sports hernia) said he hopes to come off the disabled list on Monday. … Washington manager Davey Johnson said that there’s no need for a September return for C Ivan Rodriguez (right oblique strain), who hasn’t played since July 6. “I’m not really concerned about it. It’s not like he has to prove anything to me or the organization. The only thing I’m concerned about is him getting healthy and not rushing, which he has a tendency to do,” Johnson said. … RHP Roy Halladay (15-5) will start for the Phillies on Sunday. He’s 3-0 this season and 11-1 in his career against Washington. … RHP Chien-Ming Wang (2-2) is the Nationals’ starter. Johnson said he hopes that Wang, who missed more than two years after shoulder surgery will strongly consider signing with the Nationals. “Hopefully, he enjoys pitching here,” Johnson said. “If he chooses to go elsewhere, I think it’s been good for both parties.”

 

WASHINGTON—Ryan Zimmerman hit a grand slam on a full count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Friday night, capping a six-run inning and lifting the Washington Nationals to an improbable 8-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals were trailing 4-2 and were facing Ryan Madson (3-2), but they sent eight men to the plate against the formidable closer. It was only fitting that Zimmerman had the last word, hitting the eighth game-ending home run of his career, as well as his third grand slam.

Jayson Werth opened the inning by hanging on with foul ball after foul ball until he singled to left on the 11th pitch from Madson. Danny Espinosa hit a flare to center for a single, and Jonny Gomes singled to left to drive home Werth. Wilson Ramos bunted to put runners on second and third, and pinch-hitter Jesus Flores was walked to load the bases.

That brought up Ian Desmond, who singled to right to score Espinosa. With the bases still loaded, Rick Ankiel struck out swinging, leaving Zimmerman to finish things off.

Todd Coffey (4-1) pitched the top of the ninth to get the win for the Nationals, who handed the Phillies only their second loss in the last 13 road games.

Until the last few minutes, the Phillies were in firm control. Kyle Kendrick, getting an unexpected start after a long rain delay, pitched six strong innings and appeared set to get the win.

The teams started by playing all of 5 minutes of baseball with a background of thunder and lightning before a massive storm hit—it had been a surprise that officials tried to start the game when they did.

After a delay of 2 hours, 22 minutes, scheduled starter Roy Oswalt was scratched in favor of Kendrick, who had been slated to pitch Saturday. In the fluky world of baseball, Kendrick was credited with a game starting as a pitcher but not as a batter, while Oswalt started as a batter but not as a pitcher—even though he didn’t perform either task.

It was Kendrick’s first start since Aug. 2, and he allowed two runs and five hits with four strikeouts and one walk, much to the appreciation of the always-strong visiting Phillies contingent that waited out the delay.

Brad Lidge and Antonio Bastardo each pitched a scoreless inning in relief, but Madson blew the save for only the second time this season.

Washington starter Livan Hernandez was pitching to his fourth batter when everyone but the grounds crew headed for cover, and he stayed in the game when play resumed. The Phillies hit him hard in a four-run third, sending nine men to the plate and getting a season-high seven hits in an inning.

Jimmy Rollins doubled down the right field line off the glove of

diving first baseman Laynce Nix. John Mayberry followed with his first career triple, which got past diving left fielder Jonny Gomes. Chase Utley doubled off the right field wall, and Ryan Howard, Hunter Pence, Carlos Ruiz and Wilson Valdez all singled in the inning—although Valdez’s hit brought things to a close when Werth threw out Raul Ibanez trying to score from second.

Hernandez lasted four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits.

Ramos scored the two early Nationals runs. He singled ahead of Desmond’s double in the third and hit his 10th home run of the season in the fifth.

NOTES: Zimmerman reached base for his 25th straight game. … Phillies CF Shane Victorino served the second game of his two-game suspension for his part in a benches-clearing brawl at San Francisco on Aug. 5. … Howard returned after missing one game with a strained hand muscle. Ruiz was back after sitting out two games with a groin injury. … Washington’s Michael Morse didn’t start because of swelling in his left elbow, but he flew out to left as a pinch hitter in the eighth and stayed in the game at first base. … Nationals teen sensation Bryce Harper was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. He was hurt in Double-A Harrisburg’s win at Akron on Thursday. Johnson said Harper will probably miss the rest of the minor league season.

———

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Ross Detwiler sat in the clubhouse, the only company provided by ice packs wrapped around his left arm. The pitcher stared at nothing in particular, digesting the best start of his young career with the Washington Nationals ending in defeat.

Sometimes in baseball, as in life, your best isn’t good enough.

“It sounds cliché,” Detwiler said, “but you want to go out there and keep your team in the game.”

The 25-year-old Detwiler did that in his fourth start of the season. But he couldn’t match Cincinnati Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto’s string of zeros on Wednesday night as the Reds edged the Nationals, 2-1.

All Detwiler’s six innings at Nationals Park earned was a loss. But they provided a spark of hope for the No. 6 overall selection in the 2007 draft.

“Tonight was a great step in the right direction,” shortstop Ian Desmond said. “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what he can do in the future.”

Detwiler struck out a career-high seven batters and tied another career mark with 103 pitches. Yes, nine men (seven hits, two walks) reached base against him. But he wriggled out of each spot of trouble and never appeared rattled on the mound.

Of great help to Detwiler was his sinking fastball. Normally the pitch averages 92.2 miles per hour. On Wednesday, he routinely touched 95 mph. He focused on keeping the pitch down and getting ahead in the count.

But Detwiler didn’t want to lean too heavily on the sinker. He felt too many in his previous start at Chicago led to the Cubs waiting for the pitch and smacking it the other way.

Detwiler mixed in more curveballs against the Reds — to mixed results. In the early innings that curveball was absent more than manager Davey Johnson would like. That led to Detwiler’s biggest mistake: challenging slugger Joey Votto with a 3-1 fastball in the first inning. Votto deposited the pitch deep over the fence in left-center field.

When the left-hander did throw curveballs early, Johnson noticed the pitcher slowed his motion on a couple and telegraphed the pitches.

“Those are young mistakes,” Johnson said.

When Detwiler threw the pitch for strikes, it proved a devastating compliment to his sinking fastball.

But Detwiler’s growth on the mound wasn’t matched by improvement from the Nationals’ offense. Twice the team had runners on third base with one out. Neither scored.

The final — and most painful — lost opportunity came in the bottom of the ninth inning. After a long solo home run from Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out.

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(Sports Network) – Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann makes his first career start
against the Cincinnati Reds tonight, when the Washington Nationals play the
rubber match of a three-game series.

Washington won Tuesday’s opener at Nationals Park but saw the visitors pull
even Wednesday after Johnny Cueto dazzled in eight-plus innings to guide the
Reds past the Nationals, 2-1.

Cueto (9-5) gave up one run — a ninth inning homer to Ryan Zimmerman — while
scattering six hits and fanning five.

The Dominican entered the game with a 1.94 earned run average, but was 1 2/3
innings shy of the minimum amount to qualify for the National League’s ERA
lead. After the win, his ERA was trimmed to a league-best 1.89.

Joey Votto homered and Ramon Hernandez drove in a run for Cincinnati, which
has won five of its last seven contests.

Zimmerman had two hits and Rick Ankiel added a pair of singles for the Nats,
who have lost four times in their last six games.

Ross Detwiler (1-3) was pegged with the loss after giving up a run on seven
hits in six innings.

A third-year big-leaguer, Zimmerman has made 46 starts before facing the Reds,
including a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in his last outing,
where he gave up four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

His last win came six days earlier in Denver, where he surrendered two runs on
four hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-3 defeat of the Colorado Rockies.

The 25-year-old Wisconsin native is 3-5 in 10 home assignments this season and
tossed seven scoreless innings in his last Washington appearance on July 31
while getting a no-decision against the New York Mets.

The Nationals won that game, 3-2, and are 6-4 in his last 10 starts.

For Cincinnati, veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo tries yet again for his
first win since June 25.

The Key West native won a 10-5 interleague decision at Baltimore to improve to
7-6 on the season, but has since gone 0-3 in eight starts while his earned run
average has swelled from 5.01 to a more disturbing 5.31.

The Reds are 3-5 in those eight starts, including a 5-3 win over San Diego on
Aug. 12 in which Arroyo got a no-decision for allowing an earned run six hits
in six innings.

He is 3-2 lifetime against the Nationals in eight meetings with a 4.10 ERA
across 48 1/3 innings.

Arroyo debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 2000, when Zimmermann was
14 years old.

The Sports Network

WASHINGTON — Yunesky Maya didn’t know for sure whether he’d even be added to the Washington Nationals roster when he arrived at Nationals Park on Saturday. When he left, he’d earned his first major league win.

The Nationals brought Maya to Washington as a back-up plan in case they traded scheduled starter Jason Marquis. When a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks went through before the game, Maya was officially called up from Triple-A Syracuse and pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets.

“Maya showed up, I think like an hour and two minutes before his start, and he went out there and under the circumstances pitched great,” said Jayson Werth, who provided the Nationals’ offense with a three-run home run in the first inning. “He got the win, and we needed it. We’ve been reeling a little bit, and it’s a step in the right direction.”

He walked into the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before game time and about 45 minutes before Washington publicly announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

“It was a little hard, but in a way I was ready for it,” Maya said through an interpreter. “They told me to come up here and I might be able to start. Nothing was for sure, but I was ready.”

Maya, who made his major league debut with Washington last season, was making his fourth start of the season and 10th of his career. He entered the game with an 0-4 career record.

Although he ended up with the win, the outing didn’t end quite the way he wanted. In the fifth inning, Maya hurt his back on the base paths trying to avoid a tag. He came back out to the mound for the sixth but gave up consecutive one-out singles to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

After the game Johnson said Maya had strained his oblique muscle and may need to go on the disabled list. Maya, however, said he felt he would be fine and termed his status day to day.

Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances, although he gave up a walk and two singles, loading the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Willie Harris stuck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against R.A. Dickey (5-9) and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 knuckleball deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, wed still be playing,” Dickey said.

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning.

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Washington snapped a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season, on a day when two veterans were traded. In addition to Marquis, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. was sent to Milwaukee before the game.

“That’s part of baseball, but it’s never easy on a ballclub because you have a lot of attachments,” Johnson said. “You talk to two guys and tell them they’re going somewhere, that’s never easy for the manager. But the players responded.”

NOTES: The Nationals received OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville, from the Brewers for Hairston. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Storen, who has been the subject of trade rumors, said he hoped he’d stay in Washington. “I know Ive only been here for about a year and a half, but emotionally, Ive invested a lot in this,” Storen said. … Wright had two singles, giving him a career-high seven consecutive multihit games. Wright has a hit in all nine games since he returned from the disabled list (lower back stress fracture) on July 22.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yunesky Maya didn’t know for sure whether he’d even be added to the Washington Nationals roster when he arrived at Nationals Park on Saturday. When he left, he’d earned his first major league win.

The Nationals brought Maya to Washington as a back-up plan in case they traded scheduled starter Jason Marquis. When a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks went through before the game, Maya was officially called up from Triple-A Syracuse and pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets.

“Maya showed up, I think like an hour and two minutes before his start, and he went out there and under the circumstances pitched great,” said Jayson Werth, who provided the Nationals’ offense with a three-run home run in the first inning. “He got the win, and we needed it. We’ve been reeling a little bit, and it’s a step in the right direction.”

He walked into the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before game time and about 45 minutes before Washington publicly announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

“It was a little hard, but in a way I was ready for it,” Maya said through an interpreter. “They told me to come up here and I might be able to start. Nothing was for sure, but I was ready.”

Maya, who made his major league debut with Washington last season, was making his fourth start of the season and 10th of his career. He entered the game with an 0-4 career record.

Although he ended up with the win, the outing didn’t end quite the way he wanted. In the fifth inning, Maya hurt his back on the basepaths trying to avoid a tag. He came back out to the mound for the sixth but gave up consecutive one-out singles to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

After the game Johnson said Maya had strained his oblique muscle and may need to go on the disabled list. Maya, however, said he felt he would be fine and termed his status day to day.

Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances, although he gave up a walk and two singles, loading the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Willie Harris stuck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against R.A. Dickey (5-9) and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 knuckleball deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, we

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning.

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Washington snapped a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season, on a day when two veterans were traded. In addition to Marquis, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. was sent to Milwaukee before the game.

“That’s part of baseball, but it’s never easy on a ballclub because you have a lot of attachments,” Johnson said. “You talk to two guys and tell them they’re going somewhere, that’s never easy for the manager. But the players responded.”

NOTES: The Nationals received OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville, from the Brewers for Hairston. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Storen, who has been the subject of trade rumors, said he hoped he’d stay in Washington. “I know I

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, of Taiwan, delivers his first pitch in more than two years against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park on Friday, July 29, 2011, in Washington. Wang is recovering from major shoulder surgery.

Chien-Ming Wang’s return to the big leagues was a short and unpleasant one.

Two years to the day after he had shoulder surgery, the right-hander finally started for the Washington Nationals on Friday night, and gave up six runs to the New York Mets before leaving after four innings.

He walked Jose Reyes to leadoff the game and the Mets followed with four consecutive singles, eventually scoring four times in the first inning.

When the damaged was finally done, Wang was charged with four earned run on eight hits in four innings in his first start July 4, 2009, when he was a member of the New York Yankees.

He threw 60 pitches, walked one and struck out two.

Wang has since been recovering from surgery to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. A two-time 19-game winner, his career record is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA in 109 games.

Signed by the Nationals in February 2010, Wang made six rehab starts before being activated from the 60-day disabled list.

To make room, outfielder Roger Bernandina was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Bernandina was hitting .247 with five homers, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 71 games this season. Though he leads the team with 15 runs in July, the Nationals’ primary center fielder since Johnson was hired as manager was hitless over his last 20 at-bats. Johnson was optimistic that Bernandina would return soon and said sending down a position player was done in part to not overwork the Nationals’ taxed bullpen.

“It was just kind of a strange day. We had opportunities, a couple mishaps,” Nationals Manager Davey Johnson said. “Things aren’t just going our way. That’s all I can tell you.”

Five Marlins relievers held the Washington Nationals to one run over the final 5 1-3 innings and Florida completed a three-game sweep.

The Nationals, who stranded 11 runners, have lost five straight and 8 of 11.

“We’re moving in the right direction, and sorry to the people out there that are tired of hearing it, but it’s true, and something good is about to come,” Ian Desmond said.

John Lannan (7-7) gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings for Washington.

“That’s not typical of John Lannan,” Johnson said of Lannan’s struggles with his control. “I thought he had good stuff — and he did. But he was just all over the place.”

Jayson Werth had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals, who are 9-17 under manager Davey Johnson.

“The last couple nights, I think we just lost focus a little bit, and we need to get back on track,” Werth said.

The Nationals trailed 3-1 after Stanton led off the sixth inning against Lannan and homered to center on a 2-2 pitch.

Stanton’s homer was his 24th of the season and fourth in his last six games. He has eight home runs and 14 RBIs in 12 career games at Nationals Park since 2010.

“He does a good job. (The Nationals) ought to trade for him,” Marlins Manager Jack McKeon joked. “They’d have to give up the Lincoln Memorial.”

Later in the inning, Emilio Bonifacio singled in a run off Nationals reliever Sean Burnett. Bonifacio extended his hitting streak to 26 games, the second-longest in club history.

“The kid’s got confidence because he knows he’s going to play everyday,” McKeon said. “Before, he was in and out of the lineup. When I got (here), I said ‘You’re going to play every day. You’re my leadoff guy, and here’s what I want you to do.’ And he’s having fun doing it.

“He’s really a great kid, and he wants to learn. He loves to play, and he’s very unselfish. I think everybody on the club’s rooting for him.”

Brian Sanches (4-1), the second Marlins reliever, pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

“We’re playing good baseball now,” McKeon said after the Marlins improved to 52-53. “That’s the closest we’ve been in a long time. But that’s our goal, get to .500 and then hopefully we’ll roll.”

Florida pulled rookie left-hander Brad Hand, who was recalled from Double-A Jacksonville for Thursday’s start, after 3 2-3 innings. He allowed one run on three hits, but walked six batters, one intentionally.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead when Bonifacio led off the third inning with a walk and later scored on Logan Morrison’s fielder’s choice. It was Morrison’s 26th RBI this month.

The Nationals tied it in their half of the third. With one out, Danny Espinosa walked, Ryan Zimmerman singled, and Michael Morse walked to load the bases. On a 3-0 pitch, Werth hit a blooper down the right field line that fell just fair beyond the reach of three Marlins, scoring Espinosa.

Zimmerman finished with four hits, matching his career high, and is 13 for 27 in his last six games.

The Marlins went ahead 2-1 in the fourth when Hand laid down a sacrifice bunt with Brett Hayes on first and Mike Cameron on third. Cameron ran down the third-base line part way on contact, scoring when Lannan fielded the bunt and threw to first without looking Cameron back.

“I should’ve looked, but when I have two guys screaming at me, ‘Throw one,’ I’m going to throw it to first,” Lannan said.

Notes: Washington RHP Chien-Ming Wang will start Friday against the Mets, his first major league start since July 4, 2009. Wang, who has been recovering from his 2009 shoulder surgery, will be activated from the disabled list Friday. His career record is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA in 109 games. Washington manager Davey Johnson said Wang will be limited to 80-90 pitches. … Johnson said fifth starter Tom Gorzelanny, whose regular turn would have been Friday, is now the probable starter for Monday’s game against the Braves. … Florida 1B Gaby Sanchez sat for the third straight game with a tight left hamstring. … To make room on the roster for Hand, Florida optioned RHP Jose Ceda to Triple-A New Orleans. … In 2002, Luis Castillo set the Marlins record with a 35-game hitting streak. … Jonny Gomes batted sixth and played left field in his first action for the Nationals. He went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The pitch left Jordan Zimmermann’s teammates in stitches.

And it showed how far the Washington Nationals’ right-hander has come in the 22 months since Tommy John surgery rebuilt his right elbow.

The slider broke like a Wiffle ball Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park and made Mark Ellis of the Colorado Rockies look foolish. There isn’t much a batter can do against a pitch like that, particularly when coupled with a fastball that touched 95 miles per hour.

“We were laughing,” closer Drew Storen said after the Nationals beat the Rockies 2-0 behind Zimmermann’s start. “That was disgusting.”

Heading into the All-Star break, the victory evened the Nationals’ record at 46-46. Of the positives from the season’s first half, Zimmermann’s emergence is at the forefront. He is part of a rotation that steadied the team through Stephen Strasburg’s absence, Ryan Zimmerman’s injury, Jayson Werth’s season-long slump and manager Jim Riggleman’s abrupt resignation.

After throwing 6.1 scoreless innings Sunday, Zimmermann has 14 quality starts in 18 tries. If his run support was even average — he has the National League’s third-worst — he’d likely be in Phoenix for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Zimmermann’s slider was the key to his outing against the Rockies and, in the bigger picture, his resurgent season. That a surgically repaired elbow could handle the strain of more sliders may seem counter-intuitive. But 24.1 percent of Zimmermann’s pitches this season have been sliders, according to FanGraphs.com. That’s a notable jump from his previous high of 16.1 percent in 2009.

“My slider was probably the best it’s ever been,” Zimmermann said. “I felt like I could throw it whenever and wherever I wanted to.”

That allowed Zimmermann to strike out four of the first seven batters he faced and scatter four hits. He moved the ball in and out of the strike zone and kept the Rockies off balance, which helped the three relievers manager Davey Johnson summoned to finish off the win.

What’s more, Zimmermann is throwing those sliders almost a mile an hour harder than he did before the surgery.

“He’s so clean and crisp,” Storen said. “His motion isn’t very violent. It’s nice and smooth. The ball really pops when he throws it.”

The offense lacking in so many of Zimmermann’s starts this season (the Nationals scored two runs in his last three losses), came through Sunday. Barely. Roger Bernadina’s broken-bat single into right field scored the first run, and Rick Ankiel’s home run in the eighth added another.

The biggest question is how many more times Zimmermann will see the mound before season’s end. The Nationals‘ plan to limit him to around 160 innings seems a challenge, given how well he’s pitching.

On Sunday, Johnson pulled his young ace after 88 pitches. With the game-time temperature at 88 degrees, Johnson didn’t want Zimmermann making a late-game mistake because of the heat.

But next year?

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