Nationals 4 - 8 Brewers
Final
  for this game

Nats hope Zimmermann can rebound vs. Brewers

Jun 12, 2015 - 2:44 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordan Zimmermann looks to rebound from one of his worst outings of the season when the scuffling Washington Nationals continue a four- game series Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Zimmermann was 4-0 in his last eight starts until facing the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, when the Nationals dropped a 6-3 decision and the right-hander allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks in five innings. Zimmermann had gone at least six innings in each of his previous nine appearances.

Washington was 6-2 during Zimmermann's unbeaten run and he gave up at least four earned runs for the first time since April 13 at Boston, where he was tagged for a season-worst eight runs (7 earned). Zimmermann is shooting for his sixth win (5-3) and has a 3.18 earned run average in 12 starts.

In five career starts against Milwaukee, Zimmermann is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA across 30 2/3 innings. He has a perfect night record this season, going 4-0 in seven attempts.

The Nationals struggled under the lights with Thursday's 6-5 defeat, as the Brewers tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh on Gerardo Parra's solo home run and took the lead for good with an RBI single by Scooter Gennett in the eighth. Milwaukee recalled Gennett from Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game.

Clint Robinson went 2-for-4 with his first career home run and two runs scored for the Nationals, who blew a 5-1 lead and lost for the 11th time in the last 15 games. Denard Span finished with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, and Bryce Harper was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Aaron Barrett took the loss and starter Tanner Roark was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"That's on my shoulders for not keeping (the lead) and letting them back in the game," Roark said.

The Nationals, who are a half-game behind the New York Mets for the NL East lead, made some moves on Thursday, the biggest of which was placing first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list. Also, the team acquired pitcher David Carpenter from the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder Tony Renda.

Milwaukee won for the fifth time in seven tries. Parra, Ryan Braun and Adam Lind all finished with two hits and an RBI to help the club rally.

"Down four, that's a pretty good deficit," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the comeback. "We kept chipping away and we got to them."

Will Smith was fresh out of the bullpen and picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning, while Francisco Rodriguez followed for his 13th save. Matt Garza started for the Crew and permitted five runs, two of which were earned, and eight hits in six innings.

Mike Fiers gets the nod for Milwaukee Friday and has struggled to a 2-6 record with a 4.06 ERA in 12 starts. Fiers is coming off Sunday's 2-0 loss at Minnesota in which the right-hander allowed both runs in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three batters.

Fiers hasn't allowed that many runs despite his lack of success, allowing two earned runs or less in six straight trips to the mound. Fiers is 0-4 with a 5.83 ERA in six home starts and 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA in three career meetings (1 start) with the Nationals.

The Nationals won four of six meetings with the Brewers last season and the two clubs will meet again for three games at Nationals Park in late August.






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