Offense struggles as Nats drop second straight (Zimmerman injury update)

This script has been written too many times throughout the first month of the season. Once again, poor situational hitting combined with shoddy defense led to the Nationals losing. With today's 4-1 loss to the Cardinals, the Nats drop the first series between the teams and St. Louis now holds a 13-3 record against the Nats over the past three years.

"We get guys on first and third, we gotta get 'em in," said manager Matt Williams. "We can't kick the ball. We gotta play good defense against the Cardinals or anybody else. You're setting yourself up for being on the wrong side of the stick if you don't do those things. Against them or any other team, if we don't execute properly then it's harder to win games."

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha pitched brilliantly through seven innings to pick up his third win of the season. But entering the fifth trailing 1-0, the Nats had a chance to do some serious damage against the right-hander. Second baseman Danny Espinosa led off with a double and starter Max Scherzer reached on an error. That set up center fielder Denard Span's RBI single to tie the game and the Nats were left with runners at the corners and nobody out.

But Wacha bore down and got shortstop Ian Desmond to pop out, right fielder Bryce Harper to strike out and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to ground out to escape the jam.

"Gotta do better," said Williams. "A little overaggressive. Desi had him in a good count, got ahead in the count, but swung at a changeup and popped it up. Harp ran it to full and then swung at, I think, one out of the zone. More pitcher's pitches in the inning. We'll get it done in games this year, as well. It didn't happen today."

The Nats left seven men on base for the day and finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

"We just gotta tighten up," said Span. "When you're playing good teams like St. Louis, you can't make mistakes. You gotta capitalize on opportunities when you get them, and if you don't do those things, then you're not gonna come out on top."

Scherzer left after seven innings with the Nats down a run having only thrown 82 pitches. Williams said Scherzer complained of some discomfort in his right hand after being jammed when he hit the ground ball in the fifth.

"I haven't hit a lot," said Scherzer. "I jammed my thumb a little bit, but it shouldn't be too serious. Look forward to getting back out there and pitching my next start."

He wasn't as sharp tonight as in his previous three starts, but allowed only two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

"I wouldn't have thought this was his worst one," said Williams. "We had a lot of opportunities that we didn't come through for him. We'll just keep doing that though. We'll come through."

Zimmerman led off the fourth with what should have been a double down the right field line, but pulled up lame rounding first base and it turned into a long single. Williams disclosed after the game that Zimmerman has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Zimmerman said he's not sure how it happened just that it's been bothering him for the past four to five days. In Wednesday's loss, Zimmerman legged out two infield singles.

"It's been fine," Zimmerman said. "And then this morning, it was obviously a little bit worse. I wasn't moving around that well, but still able to play. I feel fine at the plate. It's just, obviously, running the bases today wasn't that great. But we'll just treat it and try to keep it under control until it can go away."

"I guess the good thing is everything else feels great. It feels almost like a bone bruise on my heel. But everything tests out fine on my foot. There's no strain or anything like that. There's nothing wrong. It's just pain."

Williams said the Nats will try to get Zimmerman a day off to rest his foot soon. Washington travels to Miami, beginning a three-game series against the Marlins on Friday night.