Zimmermann on Nats' historic no-hitter: "One of those special days"

With the postseason five days away, Nationals manager Matt Williams used 17 position players in the final game of the season, as he wanted to rest his starters after a couple of at-bats. His starting pitcher got a couple of base hits. His shortstop hit a home run for the only run the Nationals needed in a 1-0 shutout of the Marlins and the club's 96th win of the season. Oh, wait. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann tossed the first no-hitter in Nationals history, going nine innings, allowing one walk and striking out 10. He fired 104 pitches, 79 for strikes. And the no-hitter was by saved rookie left fielder Steven Souza Jr., who was a ninth inning defensive replacement, and said this week he wanted to work on his defense. His over the shoulder, diving catch of a Christian Yelich screaming fly ball ended the game. Zimmermann heard the crack of the bat and knew it just had to be a base hit. Didn't it? "Double. No doubt double", Zimmermann said. "And then he comes out of no where makes that catch. I'd guess whatever he wants he can have. I'll buy him anything. "He saved me. All those guys behind me today, the fifth inning I had three rockets off the bat and right at guys. That's when I knew it might be something special happening. I don't think anyone in the stadium expected Souza to get to that and somehow he turned it up another gear and got there." Pretty amazing stuff. A thrilling no-hitter for Zimmermann, and an equally stunning way to end it by a player in Souza who contemplated quitting baseball a few seasons ago. Zimmermann said he started feeling about halfway through the game that it could be an unforgettable type of day. "I think like the fifth inning," Zimmermann said. "I looked up and still (had) zeroes on the board. I had really good control. They were swinging early being the last game, I think. So that helped out a little bit. Having those two things together it's usually something good is going to happen. "I was just trying to keep it all in. I knew it was getting close. Obviously, with the fans going crazy you can definitely notice you're getting close to the end. Try to be myself out there and throw strikes." Zimmermann said he could sense the fans knew there was a chance at one of the most cherished moments in a baseball game was about to occur. "Fans were going crazy, adrenalin was pumping," he said. "I was throwing fastballs pretty much down the middle and got lucky on a few and made some pitches when I had to. "Could've easily had a few hits in there and these guys are diving all over the place for me. It's just as much them." Zimmermann said he tried to remain focused as the outs piled up. "I try not to change anything," he said. "Just go out there and keep throwing strikes, and hitting the corners. They were swinging early and I knew that. So throw some sliders in there. Got ahead (for) the most part. That one walk still burns me a little bit, but I guess we can live with that. "It ranks right up there with clinching division and things like that, running on the field and acting like fools, but I'm glad we got it done today and have some momentum going into the playoffs." Zimmermann came into the final start before the postseason believing he was on a pitch count. "After seeing Stephen (Strasburg) go 80 pitches and come out, I figured I'd be around 80 and come out," Zimmermann said. "So the best way to stay in there is not give up any hits I guess." The last time he faced the Marlins, Zimmermann got hit in his throwing shoulder by a liner off the bat of Casey McGehee. Did his shoulder bother him today? "Shoulder is fine. It's a little bruised. But I threw catch all week and threw a bullpen. I didn't feel anything. So I knew it would be fine." Zimmermann also went 2-for-3 at the plate, a pair of clean singles. That surprised him too. "I had five or six hits all year and two today," he said. "It was one of those special days." Zimmermann never dreamed about this happening when he first started in pro ball because he thought hitters made too good of contact on his stuff. "Even when I first got called up I thought there was no way this would happen," he said. "My career numbers are like one hit per inning so I figured if I can make it out of the first a hit is coming in the second. Today was one of those special days. "Actually, I was joking with Jerry Blevins today and I said 'well, if I go nine innings I'm going to be pretty made stuck on 199 2/3'. But I guess I'm pretty happy." Zimmermann said he did change a couple of suggestions from catcher Wilson Ramos and worried it might cost him the historic day. "A few times actually late in the game I shook him off once," he said. "And I'm like 'are you sure want to do this right now and make this mistake?' It worked out. He called a great game." Zimmermann also does not believe there is much rejoicing going on at the moment in his hometown of Auburndale, Wisc. "Packers still playing? Everyone's probably watching those guys, I don't know."