Nationals 2 - 1 Giants
Final
  for this game

Zimmermann, Nationals take down Giants

Jun 8, 2011 - 6:47 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Jordan Zimmermann bunted in the eventual winning run during the fourth to go along with seven solid innings on the bump, as the Washington Nationals held on to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants to even up a three-game series.

Zimmermann (4-6) allowed just one run on five hits and a walk to help the Nationals avoid a 12th loss in 17 games.

"[Zimmermann] has really stepped up," said acting Nationals manager John McLaren. "I mean his stuff is as good as anybody in the league. I hear scouts say, 'Oh my God, we'd like to get him,' and I say, 'Yeah, good luck.'"

Washington was without manager Jim Riggleman, who was served a one-game suspension because of throwing incidents during Sunday's game against Arizona. Pitcher Jason Marquis was also handed a suspension from the incident, but is appealing it.

Nate Schierholtz drove in the lone offense for the Giants, who had a two- game win streak snapped.

San Fran's starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez (4-4) allowed both runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked five.

The two teams traded runs to keep the game tied 1-1 after the third. The Giants got on the board during the bottom of the second when Aubrey Huff led off with a three-bagger and scored on Schierholtz's double.

The Nationals got their run in the third after Ian Desmond's RBI single and added the go-ahead run in the fourth.

Rick Ankiel started the inning with a double, moved to third on a Jerry Hairston fly out to right and scored two batters later on Zimmermann's sacrifice bunt.

Neither team could muster much offense after that, as Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen tossed the last two innings to preserve the Nats' win. Storen needed just six pitches to get three groundouts in the ninth for his 12th save of the season.

"I don't know how the game was that close," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "You know, we were in trouble every inning those first five innings. This was a tough go for [Sanchez]. He was a little bit off. Somehow we kept it close, but we got real quiet there the last few innings with the bats."

Game Notes

Nationals' outfielder Jayson Werth was scratched from the lineup with a sore right ankle. He was available if needed, and was listed as day-to-day...The Nationals won three of four when it hosted the Giants from April 29-May 2...Hairston left the game with an apparent upper-body injury.






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