Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: New Look Lineup Produces Winning Result In Colorado

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Zimmermann Gets Win, But He Gives Up Three Home Runs

While last night’s game still counts as a win for Jordan Zimmermann, he definitely took a step back from his last start against the Dodgers, when he gave up one run over seven innings. While Zimmermann has had a good record at Coors Field in his career (6-0, ), he fell victim to the long ball early and often last night.

After Yunel Escobar’s two-run homer in the top of the first, Zimmermann gave up a base hit to Jose Reyes to begin the game. Two batters later, Zimmermann threw the ball away on a pickoff play, which allowed Reyes to go to second. With first base open, he elects to face Carlos Gonzalez, who then crushes a fastball over the wall in right field to tie the game. Gonzalez now has four home runs in as many games against the Nationals.

Reyes would continue the damage in the following inning when he took a 0-2 fastball and hit it over the wall in right for a solo shot to extend the Rockies lead to 4-2. While Zimmermann did settle down after that, he was not able to hold a 6-4 lead.

The Rockies would rally to tie the game on a one out double by Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the fifth and a solo shot to left by Kyle Parker to lead off the sixth. While Michael Taylor’s RBI single in the seventh got Zimmermann the win, there are still some concerns that need to be discussed.

For one, he has been a slow starter. This year, the 29-year-old right-hander has a 3.86 ERA in the first inning (highest on the team) and has allowed two home runs (second behind Max Scherzer, who has three). As a whole, Zimmermann has given up 15 home runs this year (second behind Scherzer, with seven of them coming in the second half of the year.

So, while Zimmermann finally found a way to get back in the win column thanks to help from his offense, the Nationals will need better performances from him going forward if they want to keep their playoff chances alive and well.

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