Zimmermann and Roark find a way to deliver another Nationals win

The Nationals once again got seven innings from their starter, but needed to rally in the eighth inning to come back and beat the Marlins 6-4.

Jordan Zimmermann allowed a couple of hits in the first. Marcell Ozuna's RBI single game Miami the early 1-0 lead. But then Zimmermann did not give up another run until the seventh inning.

Zimmermann knew after the first frame he would have to rely on other pitches to get guys out.

"The first inning, I was right over the middle with the fastball and I figured it was going to be a long day if I kept doing that," Zimmermann said. "So I had to start working on the corners a little bit. The curveball and slider were both there today, so it was one of those days where I had all three pitches working. It was fun to be out there."

"First inning, (he) didn't exactly throw it where he wanted to, but after that, settled in nicely," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "I thought he threw the ball really well."

Justin Bour's homer broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Zimmermann decided to challenge Bour on a full count pitch.

"Huge guy, fastball, 3-2," Zimmermann said. "He knew I was coming with the fastball. If I throw any off-speed, I probably got him. But I didn't want to walk the leadoff guy, so I went with the fastball, and just didn't execute it. It was up a little bit - he just got the barrel to it."

With the Nationals down 2-1, Williams had to go to a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh. It turned into a big play in the game because pinch-hitter Cliff Robinson walked. Pinch-runner Michael A. Taylor eventually came around and scored the run that tied the game at 2-2.

Any starter still feeling like they can win wants to stay in the game, but Zimmermann understood the call to a pinch-hitter with one out in seventh.

"Yeah, it was 80 pitches or whatever it was," Zimmermann said. "That's just the way it is, though. We're down 2-1. They have to bring a pinch-hitter in, so that's just the way the game goes."

It was also noted that Zimmermann's velocity was a tick down, reaching the low-90s when he can usually touch mid-90s with his fastball. That didn't faze Zimmermann, either.

"Don't really care about my velocity as long as I make my pitch," Zimmermann said. "You can throw 85 (mph) and make your pitch and get guys out up here as long as you execute and mix it up. I'm sure it'll come back later in the season, but just down a little bit right now."

The Nationals eventually rallied with a four-run eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Called into his first major league save situation, Tanner Roark delivered by tossing a scoreless ninth, which included a strikeout of the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton to end the game.

"I was definitely amped up big time," Roark said. "We tied the game, than we went ahead and so just even more amped up and ready to get out there, adrenalin rush."

Williams had decided earlier in the day that the Nats were not going to go to Drew Storen or Aaron Barrett at the end of this game. He decided on Roark.

"He's been in big moments," Williams said. "He's been in big games. It doesn't matter to him which inning it is. It's just about getting outs. That was the plan the whole day to stay off (Storen and Barrett). They've been worked a lot.

"He's excited to pitch whenever that is. Whether that's starting a game, whether that's in sixth inning or whether it's closing a game. Circumstances dictate there are roles for guys. He's the perfect mentality to put in that role because it doesn't much matter to him. It's about three outs and that's all."

Williams wasn't worried when Stanton stepped to the plate as the potential tying run.

"Yeah, (Roark) got behind him," the manager said. "Gave him a 3-0 fastball that he took and then two really good sliders. It's never comfortable when he stands at the platem but Tanner made some good pitches tonight."

Roark was pumped up to face Stanton in the end.

"Yeah, for sure. He's the tying run. He's a great hitter," Roark said. "I was trying to make him chase my pitches and it worked out that way. I'm just grateful for that. I'm glad we came out on top with a huge win.

"You can't let him hurt you there. You still have to give everything you got and execute your pitch. Luckily, it worked out."

Zimmermann said the team is feeling a good rhythm now after winning six of seven. And after scoring just two runs in the last two games, he can see the offense starting to show some punch, too.

"We're swinging the bat well," Zimmermann said. "We had bunch of outs tonight that were line drives. Just a matter of time and these guys are going to break through. They did late in the game and it was good to see. We got the win. Hopefully get another one tomorrow."

Zimmermann believes he has found something in his pitches after a bit of a slow start to the season.

"I feel good," he said. "It was a little hit and miss early in the season. But I feel good now. Fastball command is there. The breaking pitches are there, so I feel good."