Zimmerman and Zimmermann provide Nats security in 2-1 win

A two-run homer from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the first turned out to be all the offense Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann would get and need in a 2-1 victory over the Mets in the second game of the season-opening three-game series.

Zimmermann ran into some trouble in the second when the Mets strung together three consecutive singles, leading to their only run. He altered his approach a bit and retired 11 straight batters before Mets first baseman Lucas Duda singled in the sixth.

"I saw I had 40 pitches after two and I better try getting some quick outs, stop messing around," said Zimmermann. "So I started throwing more strikes and going right after the guys instead of nibbling."

The game was delayed 56 minutes due to rain showers and conditions throughout were cold and damp. But Zimmermann, a native of Wisconsin, took the mound with in short sleeves. He did admit to struggling early with his control, especially on his slider in the football-like temperatures.

"I mean, with the weather like it is and being cold, the ball's pretty slick," he said. "So early on, it wasn't that good and then it got better as the game went on. And then I started mixing the curveball in and I started feeling a lot better."

Zimmermann allowed just the one run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Nationals manager Matt Williams chose to remove him after the sixth inning when his pitch count reached 91. Zimmermann had only maxed out at 85 in his last spring start, so Williams didn't want to overextend the right-hander early in the season as he continues to build his arm strength up.

"I felt OK," said Zimmermann. "It wasn't my best outing. I can obviously do better than that. But for the most part, it was good. Fastball was pretty good. I just got behind in the second inning on a few guys and they made some solid contact and then a couple little slow rollers that guys got on and I was able to get out of it. So it was good."

Zimmerman's first-inning homer came in his first meeting with Mets starter Jacob deGrom. Injuries forced Zimmerman to miss every opportunity against the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year last season.

"Going into a game where you've never faced a guy is always tough," said Zimmerman. "You don't really know what to expect. You don't really know how the ball comes out of his hand. I know he throws a lot of fastballs and he threw me two sliders, so I figured a fastball was more than likely coming. I just put a good swing on it."

Like Zimmerman, right fielder Bryce Harper spent more time facing doctors last year than pitchers. Williams has set Harper and Zimmerman in the meat of the Nats lineup at the third and fourth spots. Harper knows the value of having a healthy Zimmerman producing in the heart of the order.

"He's a 30 (homers) and 100 (RBIs) guy, definitely," said Harper. "That's something we missed all of last year almost. So definitely getting him back in the lineup and put a good swing on that ball and put us ahead 2-0, and that was a game-changer. We won the ballgame because of that. Definitely having him back in the lineup is something we need."

On the defensive side, Zimmerman was fantastic in just his third start at first base in a regular season game.

In the second inning, he helped suppress a potential big Mets rally when he sprinted in and dove to snatch a popped up bunt from deGrom for the second out.

"That's what I'm supposed to do over there," said Zimmerman. "Most times, they tell you to bunt, with a guy on first and second, you usually bunt the ball to third base. I guess they were trying to pick on me, which I can't blame them. It was just weird to see them bunt it that way. You usually see them bunt it towards third base."

In the eighth, with the Nats clinging to a one-run lead, Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson hit a sharp ground ball that was surely headed toward right field for a leadoff single before Zimmerman leaped to his right, securing the ball with his glove and then tossing to reliever Blake Treinen for the out at first.

"I mean, if you watch the video probably, I'm so fired up out there about those plays," said Harper. "So excited about the way he's playing over there. He's a Gold Glove third baseman who went over to first. Definitely, hopefully, get that Gold Glove over at first also. He's such a stud over there, being able to do the things he does over there. It's a lot of fun to watch. I get fired up out there when people make good plays of course, and it's exciting."

The ever-modest Zimmerman took a low-key approach when asked about the dazzling plays at his new position.

"I still have a lot to learn and a ways to go, but I think I feel pretty comfortable over there," he said. "I feel like I can do a lot of things over there that I can do at third. Obviously, I just don't have to make the throws. I'm going to try to get as many balls as I can over there."