HEADLINES:
Jordan Zimmermann "Makes One Mistake"...
Throw a fastball to a fastball hitter, especially when it's a 3-1 count, and even when it's 93 mph and up high, at the major league level you're taking your chances. Nolan Reimold made Nationals' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann pay for starting the Orioles' slugger with three straight balls when the two met with two down in the second inning of tonight's Interleague showdown between the regional rivals at Nationals Park. Reimold blasted a solo shot to left that cleared the bullpen and the first 5 or six rows of the stands to give Baltimore and early 1-0 lead in Washington.
After recording the first two outs in the third, Zimmermann started Brian Roberts with a 93 mph fastball for a strike, then left a curve up inside to the O's left-handed hitting second baseman, who double to right and scored when O's CF Adam Jones lined a single to left on a first pitch slider from Zimmermann that broke right over the plate at the knees. 2-0 O's after three...
THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! (No Relation)...
Nick Johnson ripped a fastball to right to lead off the fourth, and give Ryan Zimme-- THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman takes a 1-2 fastball up and out over the plate just into the first row above the out-of-town scoreboard in right, opposite field to tie it with one swing. 2-2 game after four.
Jordan Zimmermann gave up a two-out single in the fifth, a two-out walk in the sixth, and a leadoff single in the seventh, which he quickly erased with a double play grounder and a swinging K from O's reliever Matt Albers, and Zimmermann ended his evening after 7.0 IP, 97 pitches, 65 strikes, 1 BB, 7 K's, 1 HR allowed and 2 ER on 6 hits.
After Zimmermann, Ron Vill0.00ne continued his scoreless inning streak with a quick eighth. Jason Bergmann threw a scoreless ninth, and came back out for the tenth only to be lifted after one batter when he issued a leadoff walk. Dirty Joe Beimel took over for Bergmann and got the Nationals through the 10th still tied. Kip Wells retired the Nationals in order in the eleventh and was called upon to come out again for the twelfth...
Fly ball to left from Ty Wigginton, a ground ball to short from Cesar Izturis, and the Orioles send their pinch hitter back to the dugout, and let Danys Baez bat, for the fourth time in his major league career...Baez sends a dribble to third, Kip Wells comes off the mound and races toward the spinning ball, but pulls up at the last second, too late for Ryan Zimmerman to get to it and they both watch as it refuses to roll foul, Baez safe with an infield single, his first MLB hit. Wells starts Brian Roberts with two balls, and then gives up a ground rule double on a 2-0 fastball, that puts runners on second and third with two down. Adam Jones...doubles to left, two runs score, 4-2 Orioles. That's how the first of three in DC ends...
They'll do it again tomorrow night...
Orioles win, 4-2 final.
Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...Check Out Tonight's O's/Nationals Game Thread...
For The Completists, Full Game Report After The Jump...
Nationals now 12-29.
Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals Game 41 of 162.
Washington’s rookie right-hander is up in the zone, but he gets control of the 3-1 fastball and gets a fly ball to right from Brian Roberts. Jordan Zimmerman throws a 93 mph fastball by Adam Jones for strike two, and gets him looking at strike three with 95 mph heat on the outside edge. Nick Markakis sends Justin Maxwell back a bit in center but it falls short of the track...Aubrey Huff doesn’t have to go far to collect the first out on a foul by Cristian Guzman. Nick Johnson looks like he regrets connecting on a weak groundout to second. Brian Roberts jumps to his right fields and throws a rainbow back to first to get Zimmerman and end the first. O’s starter Rich Hill matches Zimmermann’s scoreless frame.
Aubrey Huff shoots a grounder to third, and Ryan Zimmerman throws to first way ahead of the runner. Ronnie Belliard pumps and throws to first in time to get Melvin Mora. Nolan Reimold gets hold of a fastball that lands 5 rows back above the bullpen in left. 1-0 O’s. Chad Moeller can’t bring himself to swing at a tight slider that gets the outside corner...Adam Dunn pops up the first pitch he sees. Josh Willingham works a one-out walk out of Rich Hill. Ronnie Belliard pushes a jam shot off his fists and over Cesar Izturis. Two on for Josh Bard, who grounds to Itzuris to Roberts to Huff, double play.
Cesar Itzuris flies out to The Hammer in left. Rich Hill has no chance on an 0-2 slider that drops out of mid-air. Brian Roberts gets a bender without as much break and he lines it right for a two-out double. Adam Jones lines to right, Willingham comes up throwing but it’s too late to get Roberts, who scores to make it 2-0 O’s. Nick Markakis’ bat cracks as he hit a fastball out to left...Full count curve to Justin Maxwell for a backwards K. Rich Hill gets Zimmerman with a two-strike slider. Cristian Guzman gets another curve inside and low that drops out of sight, strike three swinging.
Ronnie Belliard’s back on the grass where he fields Aubrey Huff’s groundout. Melvin Mora takes a 94mph two-strike fastball inside. Reimold grounds back over the mound and Ronnie Belliard fields but doesn’t throw. Chad Moeller lines to Willingham, who makes the catch in front of his face...Nick Johnson smacks a single through second in front of Zimmerman. Ryan Zimmerm...THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! First row over the out-of-town scoreboard, 2-2 ballgame in Zim’s 11th. Adam Dunn flies out to Reimold in left. Josh Willingham doesn’t like what he sees from Hill, one-out walk. Josh Willingham gets picked by Rich Hill and thrown out at second. Ronnie Belliard doesn’t have the memo on the curve...
Cesar Izturis K’s swinging. Rich Hill chases Zimmerman’s two-strike slider. Brian Roberts singles up the middle for a two-out hit. Adam Jones flies to Justin Maxwell who ends up on the track where he closes his glove on the O’s fifth...Josh Bard just avoids a fastball way inside, and doesn’t like the curve he takes that’s called strike three. Justin Maxwell runs out a ground ball to second, but Roberts’ throw easily beats him. Jordan Zimmermann K’s to end the fifth.
Nick Markakis lifts an 0-2 slider to left. Aubrey Huff pops up foul of third. Melvin Mora draws a two-out walk to bring up Reimold. Reimold grounds to Guzman who takes the out at second to end the O’s sixth...Cristian Guzman grounds out to start the home half of the sixth. Nick Johnson has a Discerning Eye, and he uses it to draw a one-out walk. Ryan Zimmerman grounds weakly enough to short to avoid the DP. Adam Dunn draws a two-out walk, and Rich Hill is done. Josh Willingham will face Matt Albers. Josh Willingham swings at a low two-strike fastball but comes up empty.
Chad Moeller’s bloop pops off Cristian Guzman’s glove as he sprints out to left chasing it. Cesar Izturis erases the runner with a DP grounder. Albers stays out to hit, but comes up empty, Zimmermann holds it close through seven...Ronnie Belliard rolls the first out to Izturis at short. Josh Bard flies out to center. Justin Maxwell with two down, grounds back to the mound.
Brian Roberts chops one straight down, Bard’s up and throwing to first in time to get the first out. Adam Jones drills a single through short in front of Markakis. Villone gets a fly ball to right from Markakis to for the second out. Aubrey Huff rolls one out to second, Ron Vill0.00ne remains perfect...Willie Harris leads off the eighth against O’s reliever Jim Johnson, TAWH K’s. Cristian Guzman bounces one into Aubrey Huff’s chest, but can’t beat it out. NIck Johnson can’t lay off a sinking two-strike fastball outside. On to the ninth, tied at 2-2.
Melvin Mora sends a leadoff single screaming into left off Jason Bergmann. Nolan Reimold pops out to second. PInch hitter Ty Wiggington grounder to Bergmann, who turns and throws to second, to first, double play to end the top of the ninth...Ryan Zimmerman against Jim Johnson. Zimmerman hits one off the end of his bat, Jim Johnson tosses to first. Adam Dunn grounds into the dramatic shift. Josh Willingham reaches down for an 0-2 offering and lines it to center for a two-out single. Ronnie Belliard chops out to second...
Jason Bergmann comes back out for the tenth, and issues a leadoff walk to Cesar Itzturis. Bergmann out for Joe Beimel. Felix Pie gets the bunt down, Itzuris to second. Brian Roberts grounds to short, Zim looks the runner back and fires to first. Adam Jones gets the intentionals to bring up Markakis with two on. Two-strike fastball up high, Markakis K’s....Danys Baez gets a groundout from Bard. Justin Maxwell works a one-out walk. Austin Kearns comes on to pinch hit, and grounds into a double play.
Aubrey Huff grounds out to Ronnie Belliard in short right. Gregg Zaun skies one to center, Justin Maxwell glides over to make the grab. Nolan Reimold flies out to Willingham in left to end the top of the eleventh...Cristian Guzman rolls the first out to Roberts at second. Nick Johnson flies to deeep center, but not deeep enough, Adam Jones makes the grab. Ryan Zimmerman’s thrown out by Izturis at short.
Ty Wigginton vs Kip Wells. Wigginton flies out to Adam Dunn near the track in right field. Cristian Guzman fields a grounder behind second, spins and throws out Izturis at first. Danys Baez chops one straight down and reaches on the weak a$$ grounder. Brian Roberts goes the other way with a line drive on a fastball that bounces in fair and gets into the stands. Kip Wells hangs a slider to Adam Jones, double, two runs score, 4-2 Orioles. Nick Markakis flies out to Dunn in right to end the top of the frame...George Sherrill gets loose and heads out to face Adam Dunn. Dunn takes a two-strike fastball for a called strike three. Josh Willingham pops out to center, Adam Jones makes the grab. Ronnie Belliard lines to short and ends up with a bat handle in his hand. Orioles win, 4-2 final.
Nationals now 12-29.