Williams on Fister's Game 1 performance (with Game 2 lineups)

With Doug Fister's complete-game shutout against the Marlins in Game 1 of the doubleheader, the Nationals secured home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs. Fister threw 104 pitches, 77 for strikes, allowed just three hits, walked none and struck out nine. It was the seventh complete game of Fister's career and his 16th win of the season, which is a career-high. Here is what manager Matt Williams had to say about the Game 1 performance of the Nats. On Fister's complete-game shutout: "Just really good all day long. Throwing the ball where he wanted to and kept them off-balance. Through the sixth inning on, he threw a lot of curveballs. There were swings and misses and strikes taken. He was in command all day." On whether he doubted Fister would pitch the ninth: "If he got into any trouble in the eighth, we had guys up and going. Once he got through the eighth, the idea was to let him finish it if he could. He pitched really well." On when he knew Fister was dialed in: "The middle innings, he just didn't pitch out of the stretch. The last inning, he pitched in the stretch and he just hadn't been there very much. The ability to throw the ball to both sides - I think really what set the tone was the first at-bat to (Christian) Yelich, he was 0-2 and went to work. Was focused on this game, this day. Pitching first in the doubleheader, he was adamant about going out there for the first game in the last two days. He's determined. Hit a double. Was out there running the bases a couple times. He's a good athlete. He fields his position well. We can't ask for anything more than that." On why Fister was adamant about pitching the first game of the doubleheader: "He just wanted to pitch today's first game and make sure that he had a chance to go out there and get us a W. We love that determination. He's a competitor, he pitches well. He's in the game the whole game and nothing seems to faze him." On the importance of securing the NL's top seed and home-field advantage: "I think it's important to have home-field advantage if we want to get to where we want to get to, then that's important. That's accomplished. I also think it's really important for us to play well the next three games and continue to push and play with some enthusiasm and some determination. That light switch just doesn't turn on and off. I think that's important for us, too. Having home-field advantage is important for us. We've payed well here. Getting the chance to play in front of our home fans is great." On how proud he is with the way the Nats have played since clinching the NL East: "It's their DNA. It's the way they established it. If it is in fact your DNA, you just don't flip it on and off. That's the way you go. That's what you do. It's an obligation because that's the way they established it and they kept it going. Having determination every day, regardless of situation to go out there and do what we can to win, and play the game the way they established playing it. It's important to us. I'm proud of that fact and they should be proud, too." On the plan for Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann the remainder of the weekend: "We're not going to push them too hard. We want them to stay in flow, stay in their routine, stay in the game, make their pitches and certainly get deep into the game. But we're not going to push them too hard." On what's up next for Ryan Zimmerman: "We'll have to determine what he needs to do. It's a constant conversation with him, depending what his timing is. Today, he hit a nice ball back through the middle with a guy on third against a guy that has a really good sinker. I think his timing is fine, but if he needs more and more at-bats, then we need to make sure that we get him in there in some capacity." For the Nationals CF Michael A. Taylor 3B Kevin Frandsen RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos 1B Tyler Moore LF Steven Souza Jr. SS Danny Espinosa 2B Jeff Kobernus RHP Taylor Hill