Ian Kennedy Outduels Jordan Zimmermann, Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 Over Washington Nationals.

• #DCEarthquake Top 5: 

5. Apres The Delay: The earthquake which shook the East Coast this afternoon delayed the start of tonight's game between the Washington Nationals and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks by just twenty minutes. The Nats waited before opening the gates tonight, explaining in a press release that, "As a precautionary measure following today’s earthquake, the team delayed opening gates to the ballpark to allow D.C. inspectors and structural engineers to survey the facility prior to tonight’s game." Once things get started, Jordan Zimmermann gets up 0-2 quickly on Willie Bloomquist, then busts the D-Backs' shortstop inside to back him off the plate before going away and getting a pop fly to short for the night's first out. An 0-2 fastball up and away gets outfielder Gerardo Parra chasing for a swinging strike three and Justin Upton flies to Rick Ankiel in center to end a thirteen-pitch 1-2-3 first for the Nationals' soon-to-be-shut-down Nats' right-hander....

4. The Kids Call Him Zim(n): Jordan Zimmermann drops a filthy 2-2 bender down low into the dirt to get the D-Backs' backstop Gerardo Parra chasing for the second K of the game by the Nats' starter who pops Ryan Roberts up and goes to a full count with Lyle Overbay before issuing a two-out walk on a fastball inside that certainly looked like a strike. Two pitches later he's got two scoreless on 31 pitches when he pops up Chris Young. Ian Desmond singled to start the Nats' first before Ian Kennedy got three straight outs in a scoreless frame. Jayson Werth singles to start the bottom of the second, but the D-Backs' ace gets Wilson Ramos looking for the third straight out to strand Werth at first in his own scoreless second.

3. Enjoy Zimmermann While You Cann: 3.0 scoreless innings, 1 walk allowed, 3 K's collected, Jordan Zimmermann's dealing against the D-Backs and he's up to 44 pitches total after a 13-pitch 3rd in Nats Park in which he gets a fly to left from Sean Burroughs, a swinging K from the opposing pitcher and a pop to short from Bloomquist in his second at bat of the night. Ian Kennedy retires three in a row in the third and his sixth batter overall and sets the Nats down in a 10-pitch frame that has him at 39 pitches after three to Zimmermann's 44. A single by Gerardo Parra and a HBP on Justin Upton brings back memories of the D-Backs and Nats' HBP-filled June series, but more importantly it puts two runners on with no one out. A fly to center by Miguel Montero allows Parra to take third, and a strong but offline throw in by Ankiel allows Upton to take second. Second and third, one down, but Ryan Zimmerman makes a diving play on a sharp grounder by Ryan Roberts for out no. 2 before Zimmmermann pops Lyle Overbay up for his fourth scoreless frame.

2. HBP War: Ryan Zimmerman singles to start the #Nats' fourth and Ian Kennedy exacts revenge with a HBP on Michael Morse that gives the Nats two on with no out a half inning after Arizona had the same. Warnings issued. Message sent. The D-Backs haven't forgotten June. Jayson Werth chases a full-count change for a swinging strike three. Danny Espinosa moves both runners up with groundout to the right side of the infield, but Kennedy strikes Laynce Nix out to strand both runners. After a 15-pitch top of the 5th in which Zimmermann gives up a two-out single but nothing else, Wilson Ramos doubles to right-center to give Washington leadoff runners in four of five innings against Ian Kennedy. Jordan Zimmermann bunts into a force at third, but Ian Desmond singles and Rick Ankiel walks and the Nats have the bases loaded with Ryan Zimmerman up. Ian Kennedy drops a 3-2 bender in over the top. Strike three. Michael Morse thinks he's hit with an 0-2 fastball inside, the ump disagrees, and Morse K's swinging at the next pitch. Still 0-0.

1. Moar Zimmermann!!??: After an 18-pitch scoreless sixth in which he gives up a two-out double for only the third hit allowed tonight, Jordan Zimmermann's at 95 pitches, 64 strikes and likely done for the night. Jayson Werth singles to start the sixth, (five of six innings), Danny Espinosa bunts Werth over and Laynce Nix walks to put two on with one out again. Wilson Ramos ends the inning, however, with a 5-4-3 tailor-made DP. 6.0 scoreless for each starter and Nats' Skipper Davey Johnson brings Jordan Zimmermann back out for the seventh. 95 pitches to start the frame. 107 when he issues a one-out walk to Chris Young and 108 when he surrenders a two-run HR to Sean Burroughs on a fastball after a visit from the pitching coach, 2-0 D-Backs. Burroughs first HR since April 30, 2005. Really? When he hit one off D-Backs' starter Shawn Estes. 2-0 AZ.

0. Not With A Quake But A Whimper: Ian Kennedy comes back out with a seven-pitch, 1-2-3 seventh after the D-Backs take a 2-0 lead and knock Zimmermann out in the top of the frame. 101 pitches, 68 strikes for the Arizona ace, who's given up six hits and two walks while recording 8 K's through seven scoreless. The Nats' 0 for 7 w/ RISP and 8 LOB are not helping things. Nats' lefty Sean Burnett and former O's starter David Hernandez throw scoreless frames in the eighth. Todd Coffey replaces Sean Burnett with runners on first and third in the ninth and gets an inning-ending grounder to Ryan Zimmerman at third, Danny Espinosa at second and on to Michael Morse. 5-4-3. J.J. Putz comes on to earn the save. Danny Espinosa pops out to the infield. Laynce Nix K's swinging. Wilson Ramos flies out to right. Ballgame. 2-0 D-Backs win. 

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Nationals now 62-65.