Jordan Zimmermann, himself one year removed from being shut down early in the midts of his recovery from the same Tommy John surgery Strasburg underwent, continued his stellar season Thursday night, striking out 11 Houston Astros in six shutout innings to lead the Nationals to a 5-0 win and a four-game sweep to start a 10-game road trip.

Zimmermann (9-8) bounced back from his worst start of the year in a big way, establishing a season-high in strikeouts and allowing Houston just three hits while walking none. Michael Morse blasted a pair of solo home runs in support of Zimmermann, helping the Nationals extend their lead to 4 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

Jordan Zimmermann fanned 11 Astros in six shutout innings to power the Nationals to a sweep.(Image:

Zimmermann was dealing from the outset, only allowing two baserunners in an inning once, when Brett Wallace doubled in the second and Scott Moore was plunked one two batters later. The 26-year-old fanned the side in both the third and fifth innings and needed only 87 pitches to complete his evening. Those who can’t understand why Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is maintaining he will shut Strasburg down at some point need only look to Zimmermann as defense exhibit A. After an up-and-down last season, his first since his surgery, Zimmermann has emerged as the most consistent starter on baseball’s best staff this year. His coming-out party makes the impending loss of Strasburg much more palatable, and it’s not hard to see Strasburg making a similar leap into more consistent  dominance next season, following Zimmermann’s example.

At any rate, the Nationals got all the runs they would need in the second inning off Astros starter Lucas Harrell (9-8). Roger Bernadina led off with a single and stole second, one of two bags he pilfered on the night. After a walk to Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche continued his hot hitting with a broken-bat single to right, scoring Bernadina and moving Zimmerman to third. Morse hit the next pitch deep enough into right for a sacrifice fly, giving Washington a 2-0 lead.

The Nationals next two runs came courtesy of Morse alone, extending the longest active hitting streak in baseball to 18 games. Facing Mickey Storey in the sixth inning, Morse went Beast Mode on a fastball, destroying the baseball nearly up to the train tracks above the Crawford Boxes in left field, reminiscent of the Albert Pujols homer off Brad Lidge in the NLCS back in 2005. Morse went the other way with his homer in the eighth innings, driving a ball to the right field seats to push Washington’s lead to 4-0.

Mike Gonzalez, Sean Burnett and Drew Storen each threw a scoreless inning after Zimmermann’s departure, setting the bullpen up nicely for the weekend after Gio Gonzalez went the distance on Wednesday night.

Champ of the Game: Jordan Zimmermann. One game after his streak of 6-inning starts ended, Zimmermann started another one, and this one was probably his best outing of the season. For the Astros, Wallace collected three of Houston’s five hits in the game.

Chump of the Game: No obvious candidates, especially since Angel Hernandez was working third base instead of the plate. Jayson Werth went 0-for-4 for the Nats, but at the same time, Washington improved to 8-0 in games Werth has played since his return from the disabled list. For Houston, J.D. Martinez also went 0-for-4, and stranded five baserunners.

Next Game: The Nationals continue their road trip at Chase Field in Phoenix Friday night for the first of three against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:40 pm. Stephen Strasburg (12-5, 2.97 ERA) takes the hill for Washington against Arizona’s Trevor Cahill (9-9, 3.76).

For the Nats, Ross Detwiler was terrific.  After giving up a walk to Jose Altuve and two-run bomb to Ben Francisco in the 1st that gave the ‘Stros a 2-0 lead, the #5 starter would settle in and certainly take care of business against this last-place squad.  He’d pitch seven strong, giving up only three total hits, the two early runs, and just two walks on 85 pitches.  Though Davey would use basically all of his relievers to close out the game, the Astros managed just two hits following Detwiler’s departure.

Like “The National Det,” Astros starter Jordan Lyles would pitch extremely well in this one.  Minus an early walk and two-run homer to Danny Espinosa in the 2nd (story sound familiar?), Lyles would hold the Nats to just three hits and two runs in seven innings.

Once the starters left is where this game slowed down dramatically.  Astros’ relievers had it easy as they would strike out a combined seven hitters in innings 8-12, yet the Nats’ bullpen was forced to work through jams caused by seemingly endless walks (yes, I know it was just four of them but it felt like double that).  It was Michael Morse in the top of the 12th, however, who finally sparked some energy in the barely awake Nats fans back in DC.  To open the inning, the Beast extended his hitting streak to 16 games on an absolute bomb 436 feet up Tal’s Hill in center that unfortunately only resulted in a double.  Roger Bernadina would lay down a sac bunt to move courtesy runner and newly acquired Cesar Izturis to third, and Espinosa would add to his nearly perfect night with a third RBI on a single up the middle.

After the Nats struggled to get hits throughout the night, Michael Morse finally came through with a leadoff double in the 12th that eventually allowed the Nats to take the lead 3-2 against the Astros late Tuesday. (Image Credit:

Though Clippard struggled yet again to finish his designated one inning of work, the Nats would finally close out the game as the clock struck midnight eastern when Bernadina made an OUTSTANDING catch in deep center.  The Nats extend their division lead to 4.0 games over the ever-lurking Atlanta Braves, and Gio Gonzalez will take the hill Wednesday to try to seal another series win.

Champ of the Game: Gotta be a tie between Espinosa and Bernadina.  Espi finished the night 2-5 with a run scored and three RBIs that were all desperately needed for the Nats to grab a late victory.  While Bernadina might’ve just been 0-2 with a run and two walks at the plate, his sac bunt ended up being crucial in the 12, and again, his catch to end the game was absolutely incredible.

For the Astros, Ben Francisco, who went 1-4 with the homer, two RBIs and a walk.

Chump of the Game: The Nationals’ 1-4 hitters went 0-19 with 8 K’s tonight…enough said.

For Houston, Marwin Gonzalez and Justin Maxwell each went 0-5.

Next Game: Wednesday, 8:05PM at Minute Maid Park in Houston.  Gio Gonzalez (13-6, 3.34 ERA) vs. Armando Galarraga (0-1, 5.23 ERA).

Apr 16, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth (28) congratulates Washington Nationals relief pitcher Henry Rodriguez (63) and catcher Wilson Ramos (3) after the game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park. The Nationals defeated the Astros 6 – 3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE

Lombardozzi, a Columbia, Maryland native, went 4-5 at the plate last night to help propel the Nats to a 6-2 win over Kyle Weiland and the Houston Astros. Lombardozzi also contributed 2 RBIs and scored once.

But Lombo didn’t do this alone. Stephen Strasburg pitched a solid start, giving up only 2 earned runs in 6 frames, pitching shutout baseball through the first 5 innings. The bullpen then came through to pitch three scoreless innings, and Henry Rodriguez picked up his second save of the season.

Prior to the game, MASN’s Mid-Atlantic Sports Report discussed how the Nationals’ impressive 7-3 start would not last, and how the team would likely level off in the coming months. But if Strasburg and the rest of this rotation can continue their dominance of hitters and the offense can put some runs up, why should it stop?

The Nationals sit at 8-3, which is a 72% winning percentage, which, translated onto a 162-game schedule, comes out to 117 wins at season’s end. As much as I’d like to see that, it’s not going to happen, but 88-90 wins is certainly not inconceivable. The club has the pitching to get there, as well as the depth. Just look at Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy!

The Nationals are playing good baseball, and there’s no reason to believe that they can’t sweep the Astros. Should they do that, it would put them at 11-3, and would be the first time they’ve ever had a 4-game sweep in Nationals park. Let’s hope for the best, and go Nats!

Champs of the Game: It’s hard not to give this to Steven Lombardozzi, so he takes the cake tonight. Lombo played a phenomenal game, going 4-5 with 2 RBIs, a double and a bunt that he beat out for a base hit. At this rate, Lombardozzi is batting .500 for the year, and may force Davey Johnson to get him some everyday at-bats.

For the Astros, third baseman Chris Johnson got 2 hits and also knocked in both of Houston’s runs. He also stole a base, and pushed his season average up to .326.

Chumps of the Game: Xavier Nady went only 1-4, struck out and stranded a runner. Though acquiring a hit was good for the struggling Nady, he must produce more if he wants to stick with the team upon Michael Morse’s return in the coming months.

J.D. Martinez had a disappointing game for the Astros, striking out 4 times and stranding 3 runners.

Unsung Heroes: Ryan Zimmerman’s 2-RBI night was overshadowed by Lombardozzi’s hit parade. Both RBIs were hit with 2 outs, and Zimmerman also stole a base.

Brandon Lyon quitely pitched 2 shutout innings for the Astros, recording 2 strikeouts.

Next game: Tuesday, April 17 vs. Astros at Nationals Park. Gio Gonzalez vs. Wandy Rodriguez.