News on Fedde, Zimmerman, Rosenthal and Adams (Nats win 5-2)

CINCINNATI - Nationals manager Davey Martinez is looking for right-hander Erick Fedde to continue to build off his last two outings today in the Queen City in his first-ever start against the Reds.

Fedde threw 83 pitches over five innings May 26 in earning his first win of the season, a 9-6 victory over the Marlins. In that game, the former UNLV standout scattered four hits over five shutout innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He also went five innings May 21 and allowed only one run against the Mets at Citi Field.

"He's been really good," Martinez said. "I want him to go out there and continue to pound the strike zone, throw strike one."

Fedde is continuing to throw just one breaking pitch instead of two, shelving the cutter for right now.

"It's actually helped him," Martinez said. "For me, when you are trying to throw too many pitches you lose that release point on all of them. He's found what works for him and his release point is consistent."

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is rehabbing from right foot plantar fasciitis back at Nats Park. The club will return to D.C. for Tuesday's two-game set against the White Sox.

"Apparently he is doing fine," Martinez said. "When we go back we are going to assess what's going on but he might start running again so we will see. He said he feels good, working out at home, and doing well."

Zimmerman has been out since April 28 and has missed 31 games.

* Right-hander Trevor Rosenthal got a pitching session in earlier today at the Great American Ball Park to positive results. Martinez was on hand to watch his throws.

"He threw a bullpen today," Martinez said. "Threw really well. I think he threw like 29 pitches. So he is going to light toss tomorrow, not pick up a ball Monday, and then get ready to pitch on Tuesday.

"I wanted to put eyes on him. He was really good. I know he mentioned about putting the finishing touches on and he feels good. Let's see where we are at on Tuesday."

The plan is for Rosenthal to go back to Double-A Harrisburg and pitch for the Senators Tuesday.

"He's really close. It's almost like a guy running hurdles," the skipper said. "You're over that last hurdle but you still got that ten yards to sprint. That's where we are at right now."

* Matt Adams is hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two homers and six RBIs against today's opponent Tanner Roark. Gerardo Parra is hitting .353 (6-for-17) with two doubles, a homer and two RBIs versus Roark. Kurt Suzuki has also hit a homer off the former Nats starter.

Update: Following singles by Anthony Rendon and Brian Dozier in the second, Parra slammed a three-run shot deep over the right field wall to give the Nats a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the second following a walk and a Tucker Barnhart single, Roark laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored José Iglesias. The Nats lead was cut to 3-1.

In the fourth, Adams blasted a solo homer that went 87 feet in the air and traveled 428 feet, well over the right field wall for his sixth of the season. The Nats led 4-1.

Fedde has thrown 70 pitches through three innings, and has induced a pair of double plays to stay out of a big inning.

Mid-fourth, the Nats lead the Reds 4-1.

Update II: Roark helped his own cause with an impressive solo homer over the center field wall for his first career roundtripper. The Nats lead the Reds 4-2 after four innings.

Update III: Fedde was taxed for 85 pitches in four innings (plus one batter), but induced a pair of double plays and stayed away from the big inning. He allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Roark allowed four runs on six hits in six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. He threw 89 pitches, 57 for strikes.

After seven innings, the Nats lead the Reds 4-2.

Update IV: Dozier provided some valuable insurance with a solo shot deep over the left field wall in the top of the ninth off of Reds reliever Matt Bowman. It was Dozier's eighth homer of the season. He has three homers in his last 14 games.

The Nats led 5-2 over the Reds mid-ninth.

Update V: Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless ninth, which included a strikeout of Nick Senzel. The southpaw's save secured the win for Tanner Rainey, his first in the majors. Doolittle has 11 saves on the season.

The Nats even the series at a game apiece. Final score: The Nats 5, the Reds 2.