Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat up innings in comeback win

The Nationals found a way in the end to come back and beat the Braves 5-4 on Sunday and sweep their three-game series. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was staked to an early 3-0 lead. Normally, he is able to take full advantage of such a cushion.

But the Braves chipped away quickly, scoring two in the second inning and one in the third to tie the game at 3-3. Atlanta scored one more in the seventh and led 4-3.

Zimmermann knew it wasn't his most even outing with control issues - he had only two strikeouts and gave up three walks.

He hadn't allowed that many walks in past three starts. The last time he surrendered more than three walks was April 18 against the Phillies, when he issued four walks.

"It could have been better, for sure," Zimmermann said. "They get three runs (for) me in the first and I can't lock it down. I threw obviously a lot of pitches, a lot of fastballs that were balls. Command wasn't really there. The second inning took a lot out of me. I was happy to make it six and keep them in the ballgame."

The Nationals tallied two in the eighth on consecutive run-scoring hits from Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos to take a 5-4 lead. Zimmermann did not receive a decision. Left-hander Sammy Solis tossed one scoreless inning for his first major league victory.

Manager Matt Williams said Zimmermann just could not get into his normal rhythm for most of the start.

"Just inconsistency with his command today," Williams said. "Pulling, rotational a little bit. (The) ball sailing up and away to a left-hander. When he does that, he has trouble controlling his breaking ball, too, which we saw today. He kept us in it and was able to make pitches when he needed to. Pitch count got up there really fast and we had to get him out there at 100-plus. It was a grind day for him."

Zimmermann knew he was going to have to fight his command early on, so he concentrated on Ramos' glove with each pitch.

"Just try to stay on target and not fly open," Zimmermann said. "I was doing a little bit late in the game, I was flying open. The fastball was running a little bit. You're always trying to figure things out when you're out there and it's not going good. A lot of stuff going through your head. You have to keep pitching and keep throwing the ball over the plate and hopefully the guys behind you make plays.

"You're going to have games like that. You're not going to be perfect all the time. You just have to battle and find a way. I was able to do that. I know the pitch count was high, but my main goal is to give the team a chance to win and throw a quality start. I was able to do that today."

Zimmermann said he was having trouble getting ahead of the hitters with his fastball. Ramos said Zimmermann had to make an adjustment after "a lot of pitches (were left) up and in the zone".

"I would get two strikes on them and then make a mistake," Zimmermann said. "It was just one of those days where I didn't have my best stuff."

With two outs in the second inning, all he had to do was get opposing starter Alex Wood and he would be out of the threat with a 3-1 lead. Wood quickly slapped a single up the middle and the lead was only 3-2. Wood ended up getting three singles on the day.

"It hurts every time a pitcher gets a hit," Zimmermann said. "For him to go 3-for-3, it stings a little bit. I wasn't trying to be too perfect and was trying to get ahead of him. He was swinging early and put the bat on the ball. That's the way it goes sometimes."

Zimmermann kept fighting, even on a day when he continually could not find his best stuff. Closer Drew Storen certainly noticed. Storen pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save of the season, including a called third strike versus Kelly Johnson.

"That's what he's all about," Storen said of Zimmermann. "He's a guy that not gonna be out there trying to get you to feel sorry for him, no matter what the situation is. He's gonna go out and grind. He's a big competitor and even when things aren't going perfectly, he's still gonna get the most out of his outing.

"We appreciate that as a bullpen, too, because he eats up innings for us. He put us in a position to win and that's the No. 1 thing."