Lights out on Zimmermann, pitching decisions for Williams today (with Nats' statement)

The Nationals and Dodgers will resume last night's suspended game today at 2:05 p.m. It will pick up at the start of the sixth inning with the Nationals holding a 3-2 lead.

It is uncertain whether Tanner Roark will return to the mound to start the sixth. Roark needed just seven pitches to retire the Dodgers in order in the fifth after relieving starter Jordan Zimmermann, who was unable to continue after the initial 1 hour, 22 minute power outage delay.

"I just played catch and then I shut it down for 15 minutes and pretty much counted that as an inning and then threw 15 minutes later ... played catch," Zimmermann explained. "And then counted that as another inning. I mean, once I got to seven innings and an hour delay it doesn't pay to go back out there and risk getting hurt."

The Dodgers' two runs came on Adrian Gonzalez's massive homer to right off Zimmermann. Overall, Zimmermann yielded three hits with a walk, a hit batter and three strikeouts.

"I've never seen anything like it before," said Zimmermann. "It's unfortunate. I felt pretty good tonight when that happened. It's just one of those things that I guess you can't explain."

All of the lights in Nationals Park were shining bright except for one bank hanging high above the third base line, which lost power three different times between the fourth and sixth innnigs.

"I couldn't even tell where it was," Zimmermann said. "I was looking around and couldn't really see. You could just tell it was a little darker but nothing too crazy."

Nationals manager Matt Williams explained why the game had to be halted despite having a field that still appeared bright enough.

"It's not what players are used to," Williams said. "Guys throw way too hard to have somebody not be able to see a baseball. You're taking people's lives in your hands at that point. We want the conditions to be appropriate and we're not going to run our guys out there. Donnie's (Dodgers manager Don Mattingly) not going to do it, either. Baseball probably wouldn't let us do it, either. So it's not a situation where we want our guys to be out there in dim light trying to see a baseball that's coming at them hard."

When the game resumes, the Dodgers are scheduled to send Justin Turner, Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal to the plate in the top of the sixth. The question is whether Roark returns to the mound to face them. Considering he threw only seven pitches last night, it's likely he does.

Ian Desmond, Tyler Moore and Michael A. Taylor are due up in the bottom of the sixth for the Nationals.

Despite throwing only 66 pitches in game play, Zimmermann added several more during the delay, most likely leaving him out of the rotation until Wednesday against the Mets.

"I could probably pitch in a couple days, but we'll see what skip says, and I'm sure it will be four or five days," Zimmermann said.

If Roark continues today, it probably rules him out to pitch on Tuesday when the Nationals seemingly need a starter for the second game against the Mets. They could bring rookie right-hander Joe Ross back from Triple-A Syracuse. After he impressed with a 2-1 record and a 2.66 ERA over three major league starts, the Nationals sent Ross to Syracuse, where he has compiled a 3-1 mark with a 2.19 ERA in five starts.

The Dodgers will send three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw to the mound against Nationals right-hander Doug Fister in the regularly scheduled game today. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. or 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, whichever is later.

Reminder: The Nationals announced that tickets for Friday's game are not valid for entry into the completion tomorrow this afternoon. Fans can exchange Friday's tickets for a future 2015 game, subject to availability. Fans with tickets for today's 4:05 p.m. game are welcome to come early and attend the resumed game at 2:05 p.m. with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. at Nationals Park.

The conclusion of the first game will air on MASN at 2 p.m.

From the Nationals: The Nationals have issued the following statement regarding Friday night's power outage at Nationals Park:

"Our initial investigation indicates the power failure at Nationals Park last night was caused by a faulty circuit breaker. It was replaced shortly after midnight and the lights were tested throughout the night with no additional outages. While we believe we have identified and corrected the issue, additional tests are being conducted by the manufacturer of the field lighting system.

"The Nationals organization would like to again apologize to our fans for any inconvenience this incident may have caused.

"Last night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers will resume today at 2 p.m."