Jordan Zimmermann latest Nats starter to go scoreless

Entering this year, the Nationals were expected to cruise through the regular season and into October on the shoulders of their imposing starting rotation. But injuries to right-handers Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg and inconsistent pitching from lefty Gio Gonzalez interfered with the expected success that most assumed would simply be a foregone conclusion. Even Jordan Zimmermann ran into a rut, losing his previous three starts coming into last night, with an ERA of 7.63 over the mini-slump.

Zimmermann, pitching on a full week's rest, put an end to any doubts, scattering six hits while striking out three and walking none over eight shutout innings in last night's 2-1 over the Braves. It was Zimmermann's fourth start this season without issuing a free pass.

"It was good," Zimmermann said. "Early on, I wasn't quite right with the layoff, and after a couple innings I felt a lot better. I think the curveball is the best it's been all year. That was the big pitch for me (last night). And the fastball location was there. It was a good night. Pound the zone and let the guys behind me play defense."

Atlanta's Shelby Miller went toe-to-toe with Zimmermann, as the two worked at a blazing pace. Miller blanked the Nats through the first six innings before flinching first on Bryce Harper's RBI single in the seventh.

"That's the way I like it, you know. I like to get on the mound, get off the mound and get back out there," Zimmermann said. "So it was one of those nights where whoever gave up the first run was probably gonna be the loser."

Zimmermann never gave up a run, extending the starting pitching streak to a team-record 34 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, dating back to the second inning of rookie Joe Ross' outing last Friday night. The previous best run of zeros for the Nats' starters was 26 2/3 innings, which they accomplished in September of last season.

"I didn't want to be that guy who goes out and has a stinker," Zimmermann said. "My last couple had been pretty bad. I wanted to go out and keep the ball rolling. These guys pitching before me have been throwing ball great. I just wanted to keep it going."

The St. Louis Cardinals' starting rotation was the last team in the majors to throw 34 scoreless innings back in April 2013. You have to go back 34 years to August of 1981 for the franchise record when Montreal Expos starters spun 39 shutout innings.

"It's been incredible," Clint Robinson said. "We came into the season knowing that that was our strength. We were gonna ride our starting pitching, and we said in spring training, 'If we can get four runs or more, we're gonna win a lot of ballgames.' Even though we didn't (last night), Jordan gave us a great start. Our starting pitching has been phenomenal and bullpen hung in there tonight and got us through it."

Fister will have a new franchise-best scoreless mark in his sights when he toes the rubber in today's matinee with the Braves. It will be the tall right-hander's second start since coming off the 15-day disabled list last week after battling a strained flexor muscle. Fister is 1-1 against Atlanta this season, having allowed a combined seven earned runs over 12 1/3 innings in both starts.