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Zimmerman, Simontacchi enable Nationals to sweep Orioles

Jun 15, 2007 - 3:44 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Ryan Zimmerman plated Cristian Guzman with an RBI single in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Jason Simontacchi (4-4), who allowed one run on nine hits in seven innings, combined with Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero to propel the Nationals to a sixth win in their last eight games.

"I was pretty erratic the first three innings," Simontacchi said. "I stayed calm and stayed within my game plan. My fastball was off tonight, but my other pitches were working."

After Nationals reliever Billy Traber walked his lone batter, Rauch thwarted a bases-loaded threat with two strikeouts in the eighth inning. Cordero retired the side in the ninth for his 10th save.

"Guys are stepping up and doing their job," Rauch said. "I'm glad I got out of that situation."

In the top of the eighth, Orioles reliever Chad Bradford (0-3) promptly allowed a leadoff single to Guzman. After Felipe Lopez sacrificed Guzman to second, Zimmerman slapped his game-winning single to center.

"I was just trying to look for something up and go the other way," Zimmerman said. "With a guy like that (Guthrie), who has a lot of sink, you can't really look for something down."

The loss tarnished a strong effort by Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed one run on four hits in seven innings, but had to settle for a no-decision. Thursday's effort has become routine for the righthander, who has pitched seven or more innings in his last seven starts.

"Today was a battle. I created a couple of situations, mainly with the walk," Guthrie said. "But it's nice to be able to go out there and pitch and try and get deep in the game and then keep our team close. I'm getting a lot of experience by being in these close games. I know things will turn around and we'll start winning some."

Despite the strong starting pitching performances, Baltimore has lost a season high-tying fifth straight and 10 of 12.

"We are pressing and we're eight under right now," Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. "There's no reason to press. Sooner or later, we've got to start relaxing and playing our own game. It's not a lack of effort, it's too much effort."

The Nationals added an insurance run in the ninth as Ryan Langerhans slapped a double down the first base line to score Nook Logan.

Washington opened the scoring in the fifth as Lopez's ground-rule double to right-center field plated Langerhans. Lopez had the game-winning two-run triple in the Nationals' 9-6 victory in 11 innings on Wednesday.

Baltimore responded in the sixth as Jay Gibbons' sacrifice fly to center field scored Aubrey Huff to tie the game at 1-1.

Washington's Dmitri Young continued his torrid hitting with two hits. The hefty 33-year-old is batting .484 (44-for-91) with three homers and 19 RBI in his last 24 games.