Zimmermann blanks Blue Jays in Nats' 2-0 win

By Josh Land

Nationals

June 02, 2015, 10:35am

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Jordan Zimmermann has pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts.

Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey matched Zimmermann for a while, blanking the Nationals until Zimmermann helped his own cause to start the fifth.

Jordan Zimmermann home whites.jpg On a full count, Zimmermann knocked an 82-mph fastball from Dickey up the middle for a leadoff single.

After Yunel Escobar walked, Ian Desmond dropped a sacrifice bunt down to safely move both runners into scoring position for Bryce Harper.

Harper drove a Dickey knuckler to center field, plating Zimmermann. The run-scoring single tied Harper with Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the major league lead with 44 RBIs.

The next batter, Ryan Zimmerman battled Dickey in an eight pitch at-bat before sending a sacrifice fly to center that easily scored Escobar for the Nats' second run.

Escobar is 2-for-2 with a walk this afternoon.

Update: Zimmermann held the Blue Jays scoreless through eight innings, surrendering just six hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 105 pitches.

Drew Storen closed the Blue Jays out with a perfect ninth inning to claim his National League-leading 17th save.

The Nats shut out the Blue Jays 2-0 to claim the first game of the series and doubleheader.