Zimmermann knocked out early (Nats lose 8-4)

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann was forced to battle through a 31-pitch first inning that resulted in two unnecessary Brewers runs. Indecisiveness between Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon on a poorly played ground ball left the Brewers with right fielder Ryan Braun on first base instead of the inning ending on a double play.

First baseman Adam Lind followed with a single and then third baseman Aramis Ramirez ripped a two-run double that rolled to the wall in left to give the Brewers the early lead.

Bryce Harper responded with his 21st homer to lead off the second. Brewers starter Mike Fiers left a 1-2 fastball over the plate and Harper crushed it into the Nats bullpen in deep right-center.

Harper's home run is the only the hit the Nats have managed against Fiers through three innings.

Ramirez tagged Zimmermann for another RBI double in the third to extend the Brewers' margin.

Zimmermann has allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the first three frames.

Update: Rendon drew a walk to start the fourth and then advanced to second on a groundout by Yunel Escobar. That set up Harper's second RBI of the night on a sharp line drive single to right.

Zimmermann's night ended early after the Brewers turned three singles into two more runs in the fourth. He totaled 88 pitches in just 3 1/3 innings while surrendering six runs on nine hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Right-hander Taylor Hill followed Zimmermann to the mound.

Update II: Center fielder Gerardo Parra and Lind greeted Hill with base knocks before Ramirez continued his scorching night with another two-run double.

Ramirez is 3-for-3 with three doubles and five RBIs tonight.

Meanwhile, Harper's two hits are all the Nats have to show against Fiers through five innings.

Update III: Fiers walked Wilson Ramos to load the bases with two down in the sixth before getting pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa to fly out to deep left-center field to end the threat.

The Brewers tacked on another run against Nats right-hander Blake Treinen in the bottom of the frame. Treinen yielded a double to Parra and a single to Braun before Lind's RBI base knock.

Milwaukee has pounded out 15 hits through six innings against Nats pitching tonight.

Tyler Moore took Fiers deep to the second deck beyond the left field wall at Miller Park for a solo home run in the seventh.

Update IV: Harper drew a two-out walk in the seventh and Ramos drive him in on a double to the gap in left-center field.

Newly acquired right-hander David Carpenter is due to make his Nationals debut to start the eighth.

Update V: Carpenter retired the Brewers in order in the eighth.

The Nats went quietly in the ninth.

The Brewers beat the Nats 8-4.