Zimmermann felt better than Boston game, but this time struggled with control in loss

Nationals manager Matt Williams said after starter Jordan Zimmermann's outing in Boston on April 13 that the gametime conditions were dry at Fenway Park and that's why his starter couldn't get a good grip on the baseball.

In that loss, Zimmermann surrendered seven earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings. Boston won 9-4.

Saturday was a better day for humidity in D.C. The stickiness was better for pitchers and their varying grips on the baseball. It allowed Zimmermann to feel the texture of the ball a little better. But this time, he had trouble with his control, walking four batters in a 5-3 loss to the Phillies.

It was the first time Zimmermann had walked four batters in a game since Aug. 2, 2013 at Milwaukee. The Nats won that game 4-1.

Zimmermann, who went 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, two of them earned in Saturday's loss, felt he had a more cohesive outing, but could not find the strike zone at crucial times.

"It was better, but I still had four walks and that's unacceptable," Zimmermann said. "Two of them came around and scored. I have to clean that up and do better next time."

Zimmermann said he was looking to be too precise in counts when he got behind the hitters, searching for a way to get a strike.

"I was just trying to be too fine and ended up missing and falling behind," Zimmermann said. "Then I would really make a mistake and miss badly. I was just thinking I get 2-0 or 3-0 and then I would tell myself you have to throw a strike. And when you do that, you never throw a strike. It's not like me. I've just got to pound the zone and attack the hitters."

Said Williams: "He still wasn't as sharp as he normally is. Got through it. The last-inning walk ended up getting him. Threw strikes, but wasn't quite as sharp as normal. His velo was there. It was strong, felt good, just couldn't get it done today."

So what can Zimmermann do to get out of a two-game personal losing streak?

"Just not think as much," Zimmermann said. "Just go after these guys. I know my stuff is better than these guys and I just have to go after them and not be so fine and try to make the perfect pitch all the time."

Zimmermann also had trouble holding runners. Odubel Herrera and Ben Revere each were able to steal a base off of him and Jose Lobaton.

"I was varying my looks and holding and trying to go fast," Zimmermann said. "You have to probably give those guys credit. They had some speedy runners on base. That part of the game has to be better and I will get better."