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Zimmerman supports Chico as Nationals edge Reds

Aug 1, 2007 - 3:38 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Rookie lefthander Matt Chico has not been able to secure many wins for the Washington Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman made sure to help him out.

Zimmerman knocked in three runs and Chico tossed five effective innings as the Nationals held on for a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at RFK Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ryan Church had two RBI and Ronnie Belliard drove in a run and turned in a sparkling defensive play for the Nationals, who secured their fourth win in their last six games.

Trailing, 2-0, the Nationals turned to their most dangerous offensive player, Zimmerman, who highlighted a five-run fifth inning with a three-run double off Reds starter Bobby Livingston (2-2).

"It was a curveball," Zimmerman said. "We made adjustments and it worked out for us. It turned out nice."

Nook Logan led off the frame with a single, D'Angelo Jimenez walked and Felipe Lopez singled to load the bases. Belliard then singled to get the Nationals on the board, and Zimmerman followed with a booming double to deep right to clear the bases and make it 4-0.

"We put together some good at-bats," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "To me, the key at-bat was D'Angelo's walk. We made some adjustments and we were a little more patient."

After Dmitri Young grounded out to short and Austin Kearns struck out, Church singled to cap the scoring in the outburst.

"It was a big inning for us," Church said. "I was happy to contribute. It was a nice win."

Chico (5-6), who had just one win in his last 12 starts, allowed two runs and nine hits while walking three and striking out four.

"I struggled all night," Chico said. "I'm not happy with the way I pitched, but I'm happy we won."

Saul Rivera hurled two innings, Luis Ayala tossed one and Chad Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 22nd save.

The Reds started the scoring with two runs in the top of the fifth. Adam Dunn and Jeff Conine ripped back-to-back doubles, and Edwin Encarnacion singled to score Conine to make it 2-0.

"We had a lot of chances to score more runs early in the ballgame and we didn't capitalize on them," Reds manager Pete Mackanin said.

After Washington's five-run rally, Cincinnati added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Brandon Phillips to cut its deficit to 5-3.

The inning could have been bigger, but Belliard forced Ryan Freel at second with a remarkable behind-the-back toss to Lopez, fielding the ball and flipping with his glove behind his back in one motion.

"I was going for the ball and it just happened," Belliard said. "I can't practice anything like that. I got lucky. That's all I can really say about it."

"I don't think he knows how he did it," Zimmerman said.

The Nationals added another insurance run in the seventh thanks to Young, who was issued a one-out walk. Pinch runner Robert Fick used his speed to score from first on Church's RBI double.

Livingston yielded five runs and eight hits, while striking out three and walking two, in four frames for the Reds, who have lost three in a row.

"He stopped locating his pitches in the fifth inning and that was the game," Mackanin said.