Nats hope Zimmermann can end Marlins dominance
A defensive meltdown, shoddy pitching from the bullpen and Mother Nature cost the Nationals in their 7-5, seven-inning, loss to the Marlins.
Washington committed four errors, three by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, as they let a 5-1 lead turn into a 7-5 deficit.
Rain delayed the game for nearly an hour and a half before it was finally called in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.
This afternoon, Jordan Zimmermann (3-3, 4.65) has the unenviable task of trying to stop Washington's eight-game losing streak to the Marlins.
Zimmermann is coming off his best outing of the season. He held the Red Sox to one run in seven innings in the 9-3 win. Zimmermann walked one while striking out six and in the process, snapped his nine-game winless streak.
Florida sends Josh Johnson (7-1, 2.76) to the hill as the Marlins look for the three-game sweep.
Johnson, who hasn't lost in his last seven starts, has pitched more than six innings in 12 of his 16 starts this season, including seven of his last eight.
The 6'7'' right-hander has allowed three of fewer runs in 13 straight outings. In fact, the only time this season he gave up more than three was against the Nationals on April 18.
Washington tagged him for six runs in six innings, but the Marlins tied the game at six with a three-run ninth and won it by scoring three runs in the 11th.
In his career, Johnson has dominated the Nationals, going 4-0 with a 3.49 ERA in seven games, six starts. He holds Washington to a .217 batting average.
Florida is 12-4 when Johnson starts this season. The Nationals are 5-7 when Zimmermann is on the hill.
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