Ryan Zimmerman goes yard, Nats win 2-1

After a 56-minute rain delay, Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann took the mound and promptly struck out Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson to start the game. Zimmermann would make quick work of the Mets in the first on a cold, dreary night at Nats Park.

For the second straight game, the Nats put a runner on base in the first inning against the Mets. This time it was second baseman Yunel Escobar coming up with a single through the hole for his first hit as a Nat. After right fielder Bryce Harper struck out, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman stepped to the plate against the Mets starter Jacob deGrom. On Monday, the Nats squandered a prime scoring chance in the first. Tonight would be different, as Zimmerman smacked a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer.

The Mets strung together a trio of one-out singles against Zimmermann in the second, culminating with catcher Travis d'Arnaud's liner to left that scored second baseman Daniel Murphy. Mets manager Terry Collins' unorthodox plan to bat deGrom eighth in the order backfired when the pitcher popped a bunt up that Zimmerman came sprinting down the line to make a spectacular catch on. After shortstop Wilmer Flores reached on a slow roller, Zimmermann was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out Granderson for the second time.

Update: The Nats have put runners on base in five of the six innings against deGrom but have been unable to capitalize any further. Strikeouts from Zimmerman in the third and Zimmermann in the fourth ended both innings with runners on first and second.

Harper is 2-for-3 on the night with two singles and a couple of nice running catches in right field.

Second baseman Dan Uggla picked up his first hit in a Nats uniform when he doubled to the right-center gap in the fourth inning.

Zimmermann went on a roll after the second inning, retiring 11 straight batters before a single from Mets first baseman Lucas Duda with one out in the sixth. He's allowed one run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts through six innings.

The Nats lead the Mets 2-1 after six and Zimmermann is done for the night. Craig Stammen is on in relief.

Update II: Make that six of the eight innings the Nats have had runners on base tonight. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor smacked a one-out double in the seventh. Moments later, Taylor got hung up between second and third when Escobar hit a ground ball to Flores. Taylor was tagged out at third on the play while Escobar advanced to second. Collins chose to intentionally walk Harper and then Mets right-hander Rafael Montero got Zimmerman swinging to end the threat.

The Nats were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base on the night.

Nationals manager Matt Williams turned to powerful right-hander Blake Treinen to start the eighth. Mets third baseman David Wright responded with a one-out single, placing the tying runner on base. But Treinen made a sweet stab of a Duda liner right back at him and then fired to first to double up Wright to end the inning.

Closer Drew Storen pitched a perfect ninth to secure the Nats' first win on the young season, a 2-1 victory.