| LA |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Was |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
X |
3 |
Date of game: 9/19/2012
|
Recap: Washington vs. Los Angeles
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jordan Zimmermann tossed six innings of one- run baseball, helping the NL East-leading Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday at Nationals Park.
Kurt Suzuki, Ryan Zimmerman and Tyler Moore had an RBI apiece for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game skid.
Zimmermann (11-8) gave up six hits while striking out four and walking two for Washington, which started a seven-game homestand on Wednesday.
With the win, Washington improved to 90-57 on the season. The Nationals are the first D.C. baseball team to reach 90 wins since 1933.
Hanley Ramirez knocked in the lone run for the Dodgers, who have lost two in a row.
Los Angeles starter Aaron Harang (9-10) allowed two runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Tuesday night's opener of this three-game series was postponed due to torrential downpours.
Harang had a chance to help his own cause in the second inning when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. But Harang grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
The Nationals broke a scoreless tie in the bottom half of the frame. Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Suzuki's sacrifice fly made it a 1-0 contest.
The Dodgers got the run back in the third after Andre Ethier singled, moved to second on Matt Kemp's single and scored on Ramirez's base hit to right-center field.
Washington took the lead for good in the fifth. Bryce Harper led off with a triple to right-center field and raced home on Zimmerman's groundout.
The Nationals tacked on another run in the sixth to make it a 3-1 game. Ian Desmond doubled to left-center field, advanced to third on Suzuki's single and crossed the plate on pinch-hitter Moore's groundout.
Los Angeles failed to score in the seventh after pinch-hitter Nick Punto led off with a double to left. Punto moved to third on Mark Ellis' groundout. Sean Burnett came in from the bullpen and struck out Ethier before walking Kemp to put men on the corners. Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the threat.
Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively, to secure the victory.
Game NotesHarang has made eight career starts against the Nationals and is 1-3 against
them ... Morse was back in the lineup after missing the past four games with a
wrist and thumb injury ... The Nationals went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring
position and stranded nine ... The Dodgers went 1-for-15 with RISP and left 11
men on ... Clippard picked up his 32nd save of the season.
