Jordan Zimmermann uses lethal fastball to cut down Marlins 5-1

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann went old school on the Marlins in a 5-1 victory, perfectly in line with the 1980's theme celebration going on at Nationals Park Saturday night.

Zimmermann (11-8) used his fastball, with his velocity spiking in the upper 90's mph, to toss seven innings and allow only one solo homer in recording his third straight win.

Manager Matt Williams felt Zimmermann's outing was "really good" because of his fastball command.

"Fastball velocity was really up first three innings," Williams said. "Touched 96 mph. He's feeling good, got us through seven. He gave up the homer, but at that point, he was just going after guys and above 100 pitches. Felt good throughout, so good outing from him. He had good feel for his curveball tonight and he was throwing it where he wanted to."

Zimmermann agreed that he was on line for this start. He gave up only seven hits with one walk and struck out four. He did allow a few base runners early in innings, but showed poise in pitching out of trouble spots to keep the Marlins scoreless until the seventh inning.

"Yeah, it was good," Zimmermann said. "Fastball's a lot better, slider was pretty good. Still not where I want it, but it was better than the last start. Had to make some pitches. Seems like every inning I had the leadoff guy on, walk or hit or something. I was able to work around it and get out some jams. I'm just glad we got the win."

Zimmermann said his fastball was on target because he was able to keep his mechanics on point, something that had gotten away from him in a few starts earlier in August against the Mets and Dodgers.

"I was just trying to stay more on line and not fly open," Zimmermann explained. "I had that down hill action and not the sink or the run that I get when I fly open. I was more on line, pulling the glove down and not flying open."

Catcher Wilson Ramos said Zimmermann's fastball was so lethal that he really didn't need to call much else to get guys out.

"He attacked the hitter really well with the fastball," said Ramos. "When the fastball working good, sometime you don't need to mix it up too much with the other pitches. You just attack the hitter with the fastball. They can't hit the fastball, you don't have to throw any other pitches. He did it today and did it well."

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who provided offensive punch in hitting a two-run shot in the sixth, said the seven innings from Jordan Zimmermann Saturday reminded him of what he has seen from the Wisconsin native almost every game since his arrival in 2010.

"He's done the same thing for six years," Zimmerman said. "He's consistent. Knows what he's good at and sticks with it. If you're going to beat him, you're going to have to beat him on his stuff. He doesn't really veer too far away from that. That's what makes him so good."

Zimmerman said Jordan rarely gets rattled, especially when a comebacker glanced off his glove and knocked him down on the mound. The runner was safe with a base hit. Zimmermann stopped himself from pounding his fist into the ground in frustration. Instead, he got up, shook it off and kept on pitching.

"That happens a lot with him, but he's such a good athlete," Zimmerman said. "He's ready to field his position. I don't want to say he's used to it cause it's not like people hit balls hard off of him all the time. He fields his position well.

"I've seen him make some good plays. He expects to catch everything that comes back at him."

Another key play in the game came when the Marlins had two men in scoring position and two out in the third. Miami starter Tom Koehler, standing at third base, tried to come home when a pitch got away from the catcher Ramos near home plate. Ramos quickly retrieved the ball and fired to Zimmermann covering home to tag Koehler out ending the threat.

"Yeah it was good," Zimmermann said. "Anybody but the pitcher at third and he's probably scoring. It was good. I looked and he was kind of hesitant and Willy got a good jump on it and made a good throw. It was a pretty easy play."

"Today, he threw the ball really well," Ramos said. "He attacked the zone really well. He executed (his pitches) really well, especially with runners in scoring position. He attacked the hitter really well. Amazing game for him. I'm happy for him because we needed this game."