Nats win fourth in a row, top Padres 7-2

Jordan Zimmermann allowed a run? Boy, this rotation is getting soft. The Nationals' scoreless innings streak from their starters ended at 26 tonight when Zimmermann allowed a run in the fifth inning, but that was about all the Padres could muster off Nats pitching today, with the exception of a tack-on run in the ninth. Backed by six strong innings from Zimmermann, the Nats beat the Padres 7-2, moving to 14-4 on the season. Washington now has tied the Rangers for the best record in baseball, has locked up its sixth straight series win to start the 2012 campaign and has its best 18-game start to a season in franchise history. The Nats' 14-4 start marks the most wins any Nationals or Expos team has ever had through 18 games. Zimmermann finally got some help from his offense today, as the Nats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second and added four big insurance runs in the seventh. Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Wilson Ramos had two hits and two RBIs and the Nats pitchers even got in on the act at the plate, as Zimmermann and Tom Gorzelanny combined to go 2-for-3, each knocking in a run. In other words, the Nationals pitchers drove in as many runs today as the entire Padres lineup today. Not pretty, if you're in that San Diego clubhouse.